Volunteers fill the plates of folks who came to enjoy a meal ahead of the Thanksgiving 2025 holiday. (Photo: Rasheed Z. Ajamu)
This year marked the sixth for the annual Friendsgiving giveback tradition, hosted by owners of Tipsy Cafe & Catering and Das Good Cafe, Anh & Anou Vongbandith.
Typically held at their 5227 Germantown Ave. Tipsy Cafe location, the giveback has usually permitted anyone who desired to come by and get a takeout meal. In contrast, this year looked a bit different, as the Vongbandiths enlisted the support of FUMCOG to allow for both takeout and sit-in service in the historic church’s dining hall.
The couple, with volunteer support from various networks and groups like Reclaim Philadelphia, Power from the Block, and Northwest Regional Refugee and Immigration Network, had enough food prepared to serve 1,000 people. Support from these orgs and other community donations revved that number up from a usual 400-500.
The giveback comes only a month after the Vongbandith’s family reunion in late October, upon Anou’s release after being detained by ICE in late July. And this event was a personal acknowledgement of the support they received over a quarter of the year.
“The community really rallied behind the family and in a really loving and powerful way. And so, for them, they wanted to take this time to give back, to show thanks,” said Reclaim’s Executive Director, Seth Anderson-Oberman.
Anh plus one’d the sentiments, telling GIH that community is what she’s most grateful for this year. She said, “…without the solidarity of everyone, [Anou] wouldn’t be standing beside me.”
But, more than anything, the Vongbandiths looked to fill what they called a “clear need for food.”
“I felt like this year, with the turmoil in America, the economy, SNAP being taken away from some people and not coming back, we wanted to make sure that somebody had a hot meal and spend time with their family or friends or anything,” Anh said.
Folks showed up for a range of reasons, whether it be to get a nice hot meal or continue their support of the Vongbandiths, who, one attendee, Elizabeth Anon, called an “asset to the community.”
And, of course, some showed up as the volunteers, looking to lend a helping hand this season.
Jamir Griffin, curator behind @lexaprotagonist — a mutual aid and political education platform — on Instagram, was one of them. He was invited by his friend Natalie to come out, and he obliged, bringing a few of his friends with him, as well.
One neighbor, Xander Karkruff, showed up after finding the opportunity while scrolling online. While they didn’t have any Turkey Day plans, they “wanted to do something meaningful.”
Elected officials State Rep. Andre D. Carroll, State Rep. Chris Rabb, and Councilmember Nicholas O’Rourke were also in attendance, mingling with neighbors and even enjoying a meal.
Looking to the future, Anou says they hope to grow the event even bigger than it already is. In the same spirit as when they initiated the giveback six years ago, he said, “Let’s make it about trying to feed as many people as we can.”
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