I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Keeya Benson, Owner of Hot Butter Soul Supper Club in Pennsauken, New Jersey, a seasoned veteran in the food industry. During our conversation, it was clear that her passion extends beyond the kitchen. With a heart of gold, she shared the importance of giving back to the community that supports her business. This generous spirit is exemplified in her latest initiative—a prom dress giveaway, designed to help local female high school students enjoy their special night without the burden of cost. Her commitment to making a difference is truly inspiring. Let’s get into this conversation.

TG: What inspired you to to want to give away prom dresses to juniors and seniors in Jersey? Can you share the story or moment that sparked this generous initiative?

KB: My inspiration truly was just to make someone else’s life and load a litter easier. The Word of God tells us that those who refresh others shall be refreshed and that we are blessed to be a blessing. That’s my goal to always have a philanthropic leg on the stool that supports my business. Having a servant heart is something that is innate in me as long as I’ve got it I will share it. I can remember growing up as an inner city single teen mother who struggled to get things together for the prom. It was hard for me at that time. I had a 4 year old son that was my main priority, so that left me on the back burner even though I had beat the odds and graduated on time. I worked two jobs during prom season to afford to attend my own prom. I never want anyone to have to be at the fork in the road. Life is precious and that’s a time you should cherish and relish in not be inundated with lack. We as a people should be better stewards of what we have and exude generosity at all time because people need help. So if I can help in any way, I always will.

TG: From your perspective, what has been the impact of this initiative on the students who received the dresses? Can you share any memorable reactions or stories from the recipients?

KB: The impact that this had on the students was pure bliss! The young ladies were so excited once they got into the room and saw the beautiful selection of gowns. Eighty percent of the evening gowns were brand new with tags still on them. The majority of them were valued at over $1K. The girls were able to come and pick their favorite dress at NO COST! This has bought me so much joy just to see their happiness and gratefulness. They were stunned that we wanted nothing in return for the gowns.
During the giveaway, a young lady and her mother tried on several dresses and eventually found the perfect one. As they prepared to leave with the gown, the mother approached me to ask for a hug. I immediately agreed, and as she embraced me, she began to cry, sharing that she had lost her job the previous week and was unsure how she would manage to prepare her daughter for prom. This is my WHY! That blessed me so much! God knew exactly what they needed and I’m grateful I was the vessel that He chose to use to facilitate that blessing. That made it all worth it for me.

TG: How has the community reacted to your initiative? Have local businesses or other organizations stepped up to support or expand the effort?

KB: Sadly, the community with regards to local business and organizations have not shown any interest in this initiative. That can simply be charge to the head and not the heart. It’s hard for businesses right now as they are trying to stay a float. However, I am a kingdom business owner and know that the way to blessings is sowing. As long as the earth remains there will be seed, time and harvest. I’ve got seed in the ground. Prayerfully the community footprint that I am making will catch like wildfire. Only what you do for God matters!

TG: What challenges have you encountered while running this giveaway and how did you overcome them?

KB: The major challenge was securing donations for our prom dress initiative. Despite establishing our goals, we faced a significant drought, collecting only ten gowns in three months. However, this setback ignited a determination within me to fulfill the mission I believed was divinely assigned. Support came when most needed; a generous donor from the military contributed over a dozen exquisite, new gowns valued at over $1,000. Additional contributions trickled in, and our business itself invested in more than twenty dresses. This experience reinforced the principle of seed, time, and harvest emphasizing the value of rain when seeds are ready in the soil.

TG: Do you have plans to continue this initiative in the coming years? Are there other community projects you are hoping to launch that support local youth?

KB: Yes, this is the first year of our Prom Dress Giveaway. We intend to sustain this initiative annually and hope to expand it to include suit giveaways for young men. We have several projects planned for the youth in 2024 and look forward to launching them soon!

TG: What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs who want to give back to their community? How important is it for local businesses to engage in community service?

KB: My advise to my fellow entrepreneurs is to refresh others, so that you can be refreshed. Man looks at the outer man but GOD looks at the heart the inner man. If you are in a position to help, please help. Somethings you can pray about but other things you have to just do. Be someone’s answer! Learn the law of sowing and reaping and I assure you that you won’t have to look for money or business, they will both find you. Make your life a donation and someone else’s load a little lighter. It’s so important for the local business to be active in their communities. Relationship building is crucial to entrepreneurs. Getting involved in the community can help you build relational equity and make you a light house drawing others to your business.

Make sure you check her out her website:
www.hotbuttersoulsupperclub.com
Instagram Handle:
@hotbutter_soulsupperclub