Anyone is welcome to join! You do not need cooking experience to help out. There will be a variety of tasks available including chopping vegetables, organizing ingredients, cleaning, transporting supplies, labeling items, and general kitchen support.

Nope! Feel free to drop in for any amount of time during the prep windows. Even an hour of support is helpful.

We welcome donations from personal gardens, community gardens, and local farms. If possible, please bring donations on Thursday, August 13th, 2026 so we have enough time to properly plan and integrate ingredients into the meals. We will find a way to turn all donations into a delicious meal to share together.

Other meal needs include beans, legumes, spices, meats, grains, herbs, mushrooms, staples, compostable serving supplies, and kitchen support items are all appreciated. If you are unsure whether something is useful, feel free to email us ahead of time.

Vegan, vegetarian, and meat options will all be available!

Yes, children are welcome with supervision. We ask parents/guardians to help ensure safety in the commercial kitchen environment.

Absolutely. We also need support with:

• Dishwashing

• Organizing

• Ingredient sorting

• Setup/cleanup

• Running supplies

• General support tasks

Last year we donated all unused food items to an organization that cooks meals for unhoused folks in Minneapolis. We plan to do the same this year! We aim to reduce waste whenever possible through composting, community sharing, and mindful sourcing practices.

RSVP appreciated but not required.

You can send us a message on Instagram @big.psych or email us at bigpsychmpls@gmail.com to RSVP!

This year’s meal is being coordinated alongside our Community Meal Stewards Pete and Olivia with support from volunteers and community contributors.

The community meal is one of the core gathering spaces of the festival. A chance to slow down, share food, build relationships, and experience collective care and abundance together.