It might not sound like a traditional fundraiser, but that’s kind of the point.

Three Kernersville businesses are teaming up to stage an immersive, 1930s-era murder mystery dinner at The Gaslight on Main, with every dollar raised benefiting The Table Food Truck, a local nonprofit working to feed children when school cafeterias fall short. 

For Victoria Parrish of Lashtastic Lounge, the cause hits close to home. 

“It was something from God that was like, ‘Think about the children,’” she told Scope News. 

Parrish, a mother of two who knows firsthand the stress and added costs of serious food allergies, said she was moved to help those Kernersville families who have it much worse.

“These are kids in our own backyard,” she said. “They rely on school breakfast and lunch. What happens when school’s out?” 

Through conversations with locals involved with The Table Food Truck, Parrish learned how First Christian Church Ministries delivers meals directly into neighborhoods and packs up the extras for kids who will need it at home later. 

“It’s so beautiful when the community fully comes together to fill in these gaps,” she said of the program. 

As for the fundraiser, she said the idea came after her experience hosting a murder mystery party at her home that proved to be a clear crowd-pleaser. 

The Gaslight is donating its venue and offering food at cost while Savage Roasters Coffee owner Joshua Pratt is providing support, including by running proceeds through his nonprofit organization, Coffee for a Cause.

Parrish said Pratt has been an indispensable force behind this and several of her previous fundraisers over the years. 

“He doesn’t want the attention,” she said. “But he shows up. Every time.”

The event runs from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31. Just 75 tickets are available — including 25 first-come, first-serve character roles and 50 “townfolk” spots. Guests are encouraged to lean into the theme, including with era-specific attire, and those who claim character roles should ensure they will be able to attend in order to preserve the full narrative.

Tickets are on sale now and Parrish said they are already selling fast. Click here for more information.

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