LITTLE FALLS-The next "Party with a Purpose" at Sprout will benefit the nonprofit organization, Honor the Earth.

The event will also feature author, journalist and local food expert Beth Dooley and will reveal a commissioned art installation by Annie Humphrey.

The event begins at 5 p.m. Oct. 2 at Sprout, 609 13th Ave. NE, Door 8, Little Falls.

It isn't the average party-it's a local food-focused fundraising event bringing together people who want to learn about, support and financially contribute to Honor the Earth's work. It's a party with a purpose, a news release stated.

Each party at Sprout will serve culturally themed hors d'oeuvres celebrating a culture found within the region along with wine. The October party will highlight indigenous and local foods, as chef and author Beth Dooley will select recipes from each of her cookbooks to be prepared and served by event caterer Prairie Bay Grill.

The installation by Annie Humphrey-visual artist, musician and Leech Lake local-is a tipi structure that represents "the moving people," as Humphrey said. The tipi will be a permanent structure at Sprout to spark conversation, establish a welcoming atmosphere for those connected to Native American heritage and will be used as a classroom and meeting space.

Party guests can eat appetizers and drink wine as they learn about how local foods in Minnesota have evolved, and how tapping into research and indigenous wisdom is expanding possibilities to the local foodshed, or geographic region producing food for a population.

Future parties will feature foods from Amish, Somali, youth, grower or Latino cultures.

This event costs $10 per person at the door and guests are encouraged to make an additional donation. Each donor's generosity will go to support Honor the Earth. Tickets are available online at www.eventbrite.com. Guests who would like to purchase tickets at the door can send an RSVP notification to Dawn Espe at despe@regionfive.org.

Honor the Earth is a Native American-led organization established by Winona LaDuke. Its mission is to create awareness and support for Native American environmental issues and to develop needed financial and political resources for the survival of sustainable Native American communities.

The Parties with a Purpose are funded through a grant awarded to Region Five Development Commission by ArtPlace America's National Creative Placemaking Fund.