An evening of connection, music, inspiration & purpose as we honor the incredible work of Never Alone Community Food Pantry.
Shared Blessings Gala
Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Cherokee County Conference Center at The Bluffs
1130 Bluffs Parkway, Canton, GA 30114
Cocktail Attire
Must be 21 or older to attend
About the Shared Blessings Gala
Join us on April 16, 2026 to celebrate our 20th anniversary of Never Alone Community Food Pantry at the Shared Blessings Gala, an evening of music, inspiration, purpose and hope.
Highlights of the Evening:
- Hosted by: The charismatic Emmy-award winning national sports personality, actor and author, Paul Ryden, will serve as our emcee for the evening.
- Cocktail Reception: featuring Tito’s Handmade Vodka Signature Cocktail, Wine and beer courtesy of Total Wine & More.
- Festive Mocktails: Enjoy creative concoctions by The Little Sober Bar.
- Gourmet Dinner prepared by Chef Zachary Kell of Goin’ Coastal and Queens of Canton.
- Inspiring Updates: Hear from our Never Alone team and powerful stories from our community and from those we serve.
- Silent Auction and a few exciting Live Auction items available.
- Keynote Speaker: We are honored to welcome world-renowned speaker Inky Johnson to the Shared Blessings Gala. A former University of Tennessee football standout whose NFL dreams were cut short by a life-threatening injury, Inky transformed adversity into purpose. Today, he inspires audiences across the nation with a powerful message of resilience, leadership, faith, and unwavering commitment. Prepare to be moved, challenged, and inspired in a way you will never forget.
- Musical Guest: Get ready to groove with Bumpin’ the Mango.
Let’s come together to celebrate the success we’ve achieved and continue our mission to fight hunger. Your presence and donations are vital to our efforts.
Join us for an unforgettable night of shared blessings, and help us make a lasting impact in our community. Together, we can achieve so much more!
This year’s Gala will shine even brighter thanks to our extraordinary emcee, Paul Ryden.
A master storyteller and Emmy Award–winning writer, Paul’s career has taken him from Silicon Valley to the national airwaves and to mission fields around the globe. Whether on camera, on stage, or behind the pen, Paul brings authenticity, joy, and a deep passion for highlighting God’s work through people.
His presence is a gift—and we are incredibly blessed to have him lead us through an unforgettable evening.
We are honored to welcome world-renowned speaker Inky Johnson to the Shared Blessings Gala.
A former University of Tennessee football standout whose NFL dreams were cut short by a life-threatening injury, Inky transformed adversity into purpose. Today, he inspires audiences across the nation with a powerful message of resilience, leadership, faith, and unwavering commitment. Prepare to be moved, challenged, and inspired in a way you will never forget.
We are delighted to announce that Chef Zachary Kell of Kell Hospitality will be catering the Shared Blessings Gala.
Known for his sincere, humble approach to hospitality, Chef Kell believes great dining starts with caring deeply—about the guest, the team, and the community. His beloved restaurants, Queenie’s Southern Restaurant & Bar and Goin’ Coastal, reflect that philosophy through fresh, high-quality ingredients and unforgettable flavors. As a champion of the Canton dining district and its locally owned, chef-driven culture, Chef Kell brings both passion and purpose to every plate.
Guests can look forward to a menu that is creative, fresh, and crafted with heart—making this year’s Gala even more special.
We’re excited to welcome The Little Sober Bar to our Shared Blessings Gala!
A beloved local gem, The Little Sober Bar is redefining social spaces with handcrafted, alcohol-free cocktails that are every bit as celebratory, flavorful, and fun as their traditional counterparts. Rooted in community, wellness, and inclusive hospitality, they create an atmosphere where everyone can raise a glass and fully enjoy the moment. We’re grateful to have their creativity and heart elevating our event.
Get ready - Bumpin’ The Mango is bringing the groove to the Shared Blessings Gala!
This high-energy Atlanta-based band delivers an irresistible blend of funk, soul, R&B, and horn-driven rhythm that gets every room moving. Known for their electric stage presence and top-tier musicianship, Bumpin’ The Mango creates a live experience that’s vibrant, joyful, and impossible to forget. They’ll keep our night upbeat and full of celebration!
Become a Never Alone Sponsor
For twenty years, Never Alone has been fighting hunger in Cherokee, Cobb, Bartow and Pickens counties. We are one of the largest pantries in Cherokee County, and we served 41,000 people in 2025 with 1.69 million pounds of food, yet the need is more than double what we have served. Providing both client choice food selection and remote distributions to our families, we need to expand our services, our impact and our outreach. Every dollar invested in Never Alone can buy $8 in food value with our strong partnership with Atlanta Community Food Bank.
We warmly invite you to join us in supporting the Shared Blessings Gala, an event dedicated to enriching lives throughout our community. Never Alone provides food for those who are hungry and connects them with social services to help them in their time of need. Your involvement as a sponsor is vital to our success. We have created several distinctive sponsorship levels to suit your giving goals and provide multi-platform recognition. Not able to attend? Please consider a donation to our matching fund, which will incent attendees to give more and double the impact! Please contact us at your convenience to confirm your sponsorship or for additional information. We are deeply grateful for your generosity and partnership.
If you prefer to donate with an In-Kind experience or item for our silent auction, we gratefully accept your donations. Email Nancy Triplett for information on how you can do so.
