Long tables are set up family-style, with laughter and conversation as youth and community members gather to share a meal. Plates are passed, stories are exchanged and connections are made.

Chef Sam Hart, whose restaurant counter- earned Charlotte’s first Michelin Star.

This is The Family Meal, a quarterly gathering at The Relatives that brings together young people navigating crisis and neighbors who want to support them. The meal – prepared by Chef Sam Hart and their team from Charlotte’s counter- restaurant – is more than just lunch. It’s a bridge builder, where youth can feel seen and heard and spend time in community.

“When you sit down and share a meal, barriers disappear,” said Trish Hobson, executive director of The Relatives. “You stop seeing ‘clients’ or ‘guests’ – you just see people. Our young adults are navigating the same questions we all faced at 18 or 19, trying to figure out who they are and where they belong.”

Hart, whose restaurant counter- just became Charlotte’s first to earn a coveted Michelin Star (and a Green Star for sustainability), knows how powerful a meal can be. Though their restaurant has gained national attention for its immersive, story-driven tasting menus, their mission has always been deeply local.

“I’m a fifth-generation Charlottean,” Hart said. “At counter-, our number one goal has always been to help end food insecurity in West Charlotte. Since opening, we’ve raised over $600,000 and fed thousands of people. Cooking for The Relatives feels like an extension of that purpose.”

Hart’s connection to The Relatives runs deeper than a partnership. Their mother was one of the organization’s early volunteers, and when they first learned that it felt like a full circle moment. “It reminded me how small and connected this city really is,” they said. “The cycle continues – and there’s still work to be done.”

For Nick Stewart, major gifts officer at The Relatives, The Family Meal represents a more meaningful way for the community to connect with the organization’s mission.

“We started The Family Meal about a year ago with the goals of encouraging conversation, breaking down barriers, and giving community members a firsthand look at the work we do,” Stewart said. “Sharing a meal creates an organic, personal connection that no presentation ever could.”

That spirit of connection has been part of The Relatives since its earliest days. “Our organization began in the basement of Dilworth United Methodist Church,” Stewart explained. “The parishioners there noticed children sleeping on benches along East Boulevard and in Freedom Park. So, they opened their church doors and created a shelter.  When the kids who found shelter at the church went to school, they didn’t want to tell their friends they were homeless or had run away from home, so they simply said they were staying with Relatives. And that’s where our name comes from.”

For Sam Hart, that mission resonates on a personal level – they see themselves in the youth The Relatives serve. “That’s why I want to make sure every young person in Charlotte knows this place exists — because having somewhere safe to turn can change everything.”

At the table, there’s no hierarchy — just humanity. And in that simple act of breaking bread, Charlotte’s future feels a little more connected, a little more hopeful and a little more like family

To learn more about The Family Meal, check out this brief video or interested in attending The Family Meal? visit The Relatives website. For questions about The Family Meal, contact Nick Stewart at nstewart@therelatives.org or 704-501-8243.

Lunch for The Family Meal is generously provided by Chef Sam Hart and the team at counter-.