On November 7th, 2024, the heart of downtown Florence, Alabama, was transformed into something truly special — one long, beautifully decorated table stretching down Court Street, filled with laughter, conversation, and new connections. The 1Table event, now in its fourth year, invites anyone in the community to come, sit, and share a meal — no cost, no catch, no agenda, just neighbors becoming friends over good food.
It was a picture-perfect fall day. The historic cobblestone of Mobile Street set the stage, lined with gingko trees at the height of their brilliant yellow bloom, creating a canopy of gold above the gathering. Live music filled the air, adding to the festive spirit, and an art auction featuring pieces from local elementary school students brought even more heart to the occasion. Volunteer groups from all over town came together to serve, creating a beautiful reflection of Florence’s spirit of hospitality and togetherness.
Dogwood was proud to sponsor this year’s event and help spread the word by designing the official event poster. Our graphic designer, Lizzy Bigelow, worked hard to bring the 1Table team’s vision to life thoughtfully, blending their branding guidelines with a custom hatch print-inspired design that captured the essence of the event. The project pushed her creativity and became a fun and meaningful piece to create.
To experience the day in person, Lizzy traveled to Florence to meet up with Beth Gillem, our SEO & PR Specialist, who lives locally and helped facilitate Dogwood’s event sponsorship. Beth first attended 1Table three years earlier (and each year since!) and immediately recognized how deeply its spirit of community and service aligned with Dogwood’s values. Lizzy and Beth enjoyed the meal, sharing a table with longtime locals and new friends, including a couple who had just relocated to the Shoals from Australia.
After the meal, they volunteered, serving desserts — including pumpkin pie and banana pudding — at the dessert table. They even found themselves serving alongside a future mayoral candidate, proving again that Florence’s community spirit knows no bounds. The atmosphere was sweet, welcoming, and full of gratitude.
Events like 1Table are a beautiful reminder that community doesn’t happen by accident — it happens when we come together, open our hearts, and pull up a chair for someone new. Dogwood is honored to have played a small part in this day and looks forward to supporting many more opportunities to build community, one table at a time.
Until next year, Florence — keep setting the table for friendship.
