Talk it Out NC Brings the Dinner Table to the State Fair with Home-Cooked Conversations Grocery Giveaway

Five North Carolina families can win $500 in groceries while learning how everyday moments can lead to meaningful conversations

RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- What if your next grocery trip or family dinner could do more than put food on the table?

This October, Talk it Out NC is helping five North Carolina families offset the cost of groceries with $500 grocery gift cards, while encouraging parents to use the everyday moments surrounding meals as opportunities to connect and talk with their kids. 

Talk it Out NC, an initiative of the N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission focused on preventing underage drinking, is encouraging North Carolina families to start conversations about alcohol and healthy choices through its Home-Cooked Conversations Grocery Giveaway.

The campaign celebrates the everyday moments that can bring parents and kids closer — from shopping for groceries and making dinner to setting the table and sharing a meal.

From October 1–30, five North Carolina families will each have the chance to win a $500 grocery gift card.

During the North Carolina State Fair, October 15–25, Talk it Out NC is taking the campaign beyond the kitchen and bringing the dinner table to the Fair.

Families can visit Talk it Out NC in Safety City near Gate 10 on Trinity Road, where they can pull up to the table and start a conversation. The interactive setup will give parents and kids an opportunity to connect through simple conversation starters reinforcing that meaningful conversations don't have to be planned or complicated.

"Sometimes the most important conversations happen in the middle of everyday life while you're making dinner, driving home from the grocery store or sitting around the table," said Stacy Grier, Director of Education and Community Outreach with the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission. "Home-Cooked Conversations is a reminder that you don't need a special occasion to talk with your kids. Pull up a chair, ask a question, listen and keep the conversation going."

The State Fair booth will have several interactive activities including the chance to put on Alcohol Impairment Simulation Goggles. Talk it Out NC Ambassadors will demonstrate and supervise the fatal vision goggles, which mimic the effects of intoxication. The goggles, with vision-distortion lenses, make it difficult for participants to complete even the most basic tasks like walking in a straight line, standing up from a chair, and standing on one foot. Fairgoers can even try their hand at activities like coloring and playing cornhole while wearing the goggles. 

The Talk it Out NC Team will also be sharing statistics and strategies for tackling underage drinking and helping people to learn more about the Home-Cooked Conversations Grocery Giveaway.

Enter to Win $500 in Groceries

Entering the Home-Cooked Conversations Grocery Giveaway is simple. North Carolina residents can visit https://www.talkitoutnc.org/fall-giveaway-2026 for official rules and to enter through October 30.

Want an Extra Entry?

Share your family's #HomecookedConversations on Instagram or Facebook:

1. Share your Home-Cooked Conversation.
2. Tag @TalkItOutNC.
3. Use #TiONCSweepstakes.

Whether it's talking about the best part of the day over dinner, letting a child help choose the menu or asking a teen a question while unloading groceries, Talk it Out NC encourages parents to look for opportunities to connect throughout the day.

Because the goal isn't just to put food on the table. It's to put families around it.

For more information about Talk it Out NC and tips for starting conversations with young people, visit talkitoutnc.org.

About Talk it Out NC: 

The North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission launched the Talk it Out NC campaign in 2014. The goal of the multimedia awareness and engagement campaign is to reduce underage drinking by encouraging conversations between responsible adults and young people. Talk it Out NC offers resources for parents and others who need guidance talking to their children about the dangers of underage drinking. This aligns with the ABC Commission's mission of working to strengthen the public health, wellness, and safety of communities across North Carolina. Visit www.TalkitOutNC.org to get the conversation started. 

Media Contact
Jennifer Williams
[email protected]
(919) 815.4979

SOURCE Talk it Out NC