RALEIGH (January 16, 2025) – When an Inaugural Ball where you’re expecting more than 2,000 people gets postponed, what do you do with all the food you’ve ordered?

Facing the snowstorm that forced postponement of Gov. Josh Stein’s inaugural festivities last weekend, the Junior League of Raleigh and Empire Eats Catering didn’t hesitate with the food for a VIP reception: They sent it to teachers and staff at 10 public schools near downtown Raleigh.

“When the Inaugural Ball was postponed and the food had to be donated, we knew immediately that sending it to teachers and staff at downtown area public schools would be the best option,” said Greg Hatem, owner of Empire Eats and Empire Eats Catering.

“The Junior League of Raleigh shares our commitment to helping educators in our community, and this was an easy decision for all of us on what to do with the food.”

DeShelia Spann, the Inaugural Ball Communications and PR Chair for the Junior League, explained that the organization couldn’t directly distribute food to students at the schools.

“We were happy to announce that the food items prepared by Empire Eats for the Saturday Inaugural Ball events were packaged and delivered to the staff and teachers at local schools to demonstrate our continued commitment to those who serve our community,” Spann said.

Teachers Kathryn McLean and Molly McMartin enjoy Inaugural fare at Partnership Magnet Elementary School.

SO THE MENU at 10 Raleigh schools last week included items you might not normally find in the teachers’ lounge: Artisanal cheeses, roasted vegetables, crostini with an assortment of signature dips and crudité.

The 10 schools where the food was shared:

• Baileywick Elementary School
• Carnage Middle School  
• Enloe Magnet High School 
• Fuller Magnet Elementary School  
• Ligon Magnet Middle School  
• Moore Square Magnet Middle School
• Partnership Magnet Elementary School 
• Poe Magnet Elementary School 
• Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School  
• Washington Magnet Elementary School

All in all, it was a thoughtful move to turn an event “disaster” into an act of generosity to appreciate our public-school teachers and staff.