Cultivate: The Welcome Table – Fall Gathering
Updated (Oct 29, 2025) You are exuberantly invited to pull up a chair for some highlights from The Welcome Table—this time through our replay, reflections, and next steps to love big, live generously, and keep the welcome flowing.
What a Night!
We laughed, cried, danced, and listened to stories that reminded us what it means to belong to each other.
We savored Venezuelan-inspired soup (thanks to Roraima, Yecson, and Yuselin!), Ethiopian bread (crafted by our brother Abdukader), olive oil from the West Bank (from Maz and Papa Ali’s family farm!), and the warmth of shared humanity.
This gathering was more than a dinner—it was a soulFULL celebration where storytelling met service, and love met justice … over a simple and delicious meal.
Together, Seeds of Exchange and Hope Has No Borders wove stories of courage, connection, and hope that are transforming lives across Denver and beyond.
Hope Has No Borders + Seeds of Exchange Partnership
One small act of love—a bunch of bananas offered by our sister Andrea Ryall—has grown into a movement of belonging that now embraces thousands of immigrant and asylum-seeking families in Denver.
We’re partnering this fall (October–December 2025) with Hope Has No Borders to create sacred spaces of welcome—where families seeking asylum are met with hospitality, belonging, and hope.
Our Goal: $5,000
Your gifts will directly support:
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Families applying for asylum
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Emergency aid (housing, medical, food, work permit fees)
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Honorariums for asylum-seeking women sharing their gifts of welcome, cooking, and storytelling
Every dollar, every prayer, and every act of solidarity fuels belonging and dignity.
Together, we can say: you belong here.
Donate via Seeds Giving Fund »
(Tax-exempt for U.S. donors.)
Stories of Courage: Voices from the Journey
The day after our gathering, a soul sister named Nadia, who attended the event and serves as a principal at a local Denver school with students from around the world—35+ languages!—reached out and shared something extraordinary.
She offered a collection of stories written by her students—children who have fled their home countries due to violence or insecurity in search of safe haven and a fresh start here in the United States. For their privacy and protection, their names have been removed; to honor their voices, we’ve not edited any of their words.
With Nadia’s blessing, I asked if I could share these stories with our Seeds community.
I invite you to take a Place of Pause (a PoP) as you read Stories of Courage (PDF, 4 pages).
Notice what stirs in your heart—what might be meant for you in their words.
To those in Colorado:
- Nadia’s asked for help this winter with coats, shoes, and toys for the kids at her school. Drop off at the Seeds/DT House (front porch) or email us to coordinate.
- Interested in a school visit or classroom connection? Reach out—we’ll make introductions!
To learn more or get involved, reach out to us via email.
Volunteer Opportunity — Saturday, November 8
We’d love for you to join us in person!
When: Saturday, November 8 | 10 AM–1 PM
Where: Near 46th & Federal, Denver, CO
Help support Hope Has No Borders’ Career Training Workshop for Spanish-speaking immigrants learning how to start and sustain their own housecleaning businesses. | Email Seeds to sign up or for more info
Ways to Help on November 8:
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Bring snacks or coffee (drop off at Seeds HQ the night before, or bring with you).
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Volunteer with childcare (bilingual if possible, 10:30 AM–12:30 PM).
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Share this opportunity with Spanish speakers who might want to join the class:
Workshop Sign-Up Form » -
Interested in receiving free house-cleaning, offering real-world feedback, and support new entrepreneurs? Email hopehasnoborders@gmail.com.
Download the “Bags of Love” PDF » — includes a list of needed items (rice, beans, diapers, granola bars, water) and a QR code for Spanish speakers to connect with HHNB.
More info about volunteer opportunities and needs: Volunteer PDF, and about the beautyFULL, practical ways Hope Has No Borders is caring for our friends and neighbors from ‘round the world HERE (Programs Overview).
Keep Connected
Please share this post with anyone you invited who isn’t yet on our list—or ask if we can add them, so we can stay connected and keep the joy flowing!
And, if you or someone you know would like to be added to our ROOTED (in Jesus) weekly communications—filled with gatherings, inspiration, and enCOURAGEment—email us at connect@seedsofexchange.org.
Come. BE. Belong.
Whether you were in the room that night or joining from afar, may this story stir something in you—
to love big, live generously, and remember that we belong to each other.
xo, -Sarah DT & the Seeds Team
(Original Post: October 1, 2025)
Cultivate: The Welcome Table – Fall Gathering
October 18, 2025 | 5:30–8:30 PM
✨ You’re Exuberantly Invited! ✨
Mark your calendars and RSVP today—because something absolutely beautyFULL is cookin’, and we want YOU at the table! Join us for this Seeds of Exchange gathering where storytelling meets service and love meets justice … over a community meal.
DATE: Saturday, October 18, 2025
⏰ TIME: 5:30–8:30 pm
LOCATION: Denver, CO (Park Hill neighborhood)
SUGGESTED DONATION: $40 to fuel the mission of Seeds of Exchange via Venmo or PayPal
But please know: you are wholeheartedly welcome to pay what you can—or simply come as our guest. Truly.
What’s This All About?
This isn’t just a dinner. This is Cultivate: The Welcome Table, one of the four soulFULL gatherings in our Seeds of Exchange Cultivate Series. It’s a feast of culture, story, belonging, and celebration—rooted in love and overflowing with joy.
Who’s this for? Everyone. Truly.
✨ You, your spouse, your bestie, your neighbor, your teen, your grandma.
✨ The weary, the curious, the joyful, the seeking.
✨ The foodies, the activists, the storytellers, the introverts, the extroverts, the not-sure-what-to-expect-ers.
Come just as you are. Leave a little more whole (and happy!).
What to Expect
A Simple, SoulFULL Meal
We’ll gather around a lovingly prepared Venezuelan-inspired meal of soup and bread—made fresh by our team of kitchen angels.
Stories at the Table
As we eat, you’ll be invited (if you’d like!) to share a piece of your story. This is a feast of food and friendship, sweet and deep connection—both new and old.
A Place of Pause
After dinner, we’ll slow down together for a short reflection—a time to breathe, listen, and let the goodness settle in.
Meet Andrea: One of our Storytellers
(This story will stay with you.)
Andrea Ryall is a homeschooling momma whose life was transformed one ordinary afternoon in Denver when she offered the only thing in her car—a bunch of bananas—to a momma asking for help on the side of the road.
That moment sparked a movement. What began as one small act of kindness has grown into Hope Has No Borders, a community of compassion and justice that has embraced thousands of immigrant and asylum-seeking families, many from Venezuela.
Andrea will introduce us to some of the sisters who are in the room, and we might just get to hear a bit of their stories.
Get ready to hear about the miraculous and powerful ways she’s been called to love big, gather people, and ignite a movement of radical welcome. Trust us—you will leave inspired.
And Yes… We Dance!
We’ll close with joy-filled Central & South American beats—clearing dishes with shoulder bumps, impromptu dancing, and the heart-expanding sense of community that lingers long after the last bite.
Because joy is part of the journey, too.
Want to Help?
We’d love some kitchen companions!
Come early to chop, stir, and soul-connect.
Arrive around 1 pm (later works too!)
Email: connect@seedsofexchange.org to sign up.
Bring your apron—or simply bring your beautiful self.
Why We Gather
The Cultivate Series is our way of living out the heartbeat of Seeds of Exchange: cultivating spaces of belonging, purpose, and global connection.
Each gathering embodies a different theme:
Creativity & Connection – forging hope & beauty in everyday life
Place of Pause – guided reflection and soulFULL practices
Compassionate Activism – justice-rooted action and advocacy
The Welcome Table – global celebration of story, flavor, and belonging
We believe in the power of story, shared meals, and sacred pause to heal and unite.
How You Can Join the Movement
Even if you can’t be at the table on October 18, you can:
Give – Every dollar fuels dignity and belonging. | Seeds of Exchange is partnering with Hope Has No Borders in a community fundraising endeavor through the end of the year. Learn more HERE.
Volunteer – Serve at asylum application sessions or hospitality gatherings.
Pray – Lift up families waiting, working, and hoping for safety.
Share – Spread the word, invite your community, join the movement of radical welcome.
Learn more about Hope Has No Borders in this beautyFULL video-story:
Together, we’re cultivating:
Spaces that feel like home (coffee, fruit, warm meals)
Essential needs (diapers, toiletries, gift cards)
Storytelling gatherings where faith, culture, and community intertwine
A posture of presence: with, not for
RSVP + Share
✨ Click here to RSVP: Evite link
✨ Yes! Feel FREE to share the invitation with your people.
Final Invitation
Come to the table.
Be fed—body, mind, and soul.
Bring your story. Bring your heart.
This night is for YOU.
Come. Be. Belong.
We can’t wait to gather with you.
xo,
Sarah DT + the Seeds of Exchange crew
