The Table in 2015 – New Directions

  1. Numbers

People Served

YearAdultsChildrenTotalGrowth
2008605575 1,180
2009 1,321 943 2,264 192%
2010 1,517 1,304 2,821 125%
2011 2,558 1,772 4,330 153%
2012 5,025 2,862 7,887 182%
2013 5,543 3,173 8,716 111%
20147,7087,44315,151174%
20158,1077,63515,742104%

A total of 45-50 volunteers, spanning all ages, work approximately 200 hours for The Table. Of these volunteers, 30% are themselves also shoppers.

Food Distributed

YearPoundsPounds Growth
2012 134,768
2013 151,066 112%
2014180,500119%
2015206,000114%

• A shopper leaves The Table with grocery bags totaling 22-25 pounds.

• A shopper’s bags will contain approximately 60% of perishable food, including fresh produce, protein and bread.

• The Table draws shoppers from the city of Fredericksburg and at least five surrounding counties.

  1. Funding
Incoming
Community Foundation883
O'Neill Fund-
Honeywell53
Morgan Fund 2,000
Food Pantry 42,996
Food Pantry (budget) 1,200
Mustary Seed 5,000
Dulcie Potter Grant 1,000
Honeywell Grant 2015 13,646
Table Endowment 3,000
Budget Availability 3,000
Total 72,778
Outgoing
Community Foundation883
O'Neill Fund317
Honeywell 25,053
Morgan Fund 2,000
Food Pantry 19,211
Food Pantry (budget) 8,417
Mustary Seed609
Dulcie Potter Grant 1,000
Honeywell Grant 2015 5,319
Table Endowment-
Total 62,810
Surplus9,969

The Table participated in the first Community Give sponsored by the Community Foundation of the Rappahannock Community Foundation. It collected $19,005.17.

The grant committee created a profile and  video to post on our Community Give site.  The Outreach Grant Committee includes members Chris Cook, Karen Primmer, Beth Klein, Linda Carter and Carey Chirico and meets monthly to look at ways to ensure funding.

They began a Table Endowment Fund for the future that gathered donations of $3,000

3. Expansion
A. Cooking Classes

May, 2015, a Mustard Seed  Grant of $5,000 was for the establishment of Cooking Classes.

cookingclass

In September, 2015, The Table began to offer cooking classes, made possible by a grant.  The first class was a breakfast class These classes teach shoppers ways to prepare nutritious, tasty dishes using fresh produce and other items available at the food pantry.  They will serve any Table clients who wish to attend and the Micah newly re-housed client population. 

The Thursday morning classes  follow a “Dr. Yum” format with groups of 6 people standing around three different tables to reach a max of 18 clients per class.  Each table would be staffed by three volunteers.  Additionally it was discussed that the kitchen pass through could be used as a cooking space with small griddles

Menus will include items that are healthy with food largely available from The Table.  Extra spices, nut milks, butters or oils will be in the gift bag given to the client at the end of the class.

B. Creation of the Shed
shedondeliveryday

The shed was  8×6 insulated shed, gable rood and slate roof to match the historic church’s slate, hardi pane walls with stucc. It was  blessed in June in 2015 and allowed the Table to hold fragile produce purchased at wholesale prices.

The Reverend Joe Hensley said the following  “This cooling shed not only allows us to store more fresh food to give away, it enhances our ability to connect with the community. That community includes farmers, people who may not have regular access to produce, volunteers who want to be part of creating a world without hunger, and many more.”

The completion of the shed represented the culmination of a year of obtaining grants, planning and construction. Funding was provided by The Honeywell Charitable Fund and the Robert Cullen O’Neill Memorial Fund of The Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region. The planning involved local non-profits, businesses and government agencies. Much of the research and construction was done by volunteers and local businesses donating their time, expertise, labor and materials.  Volunteers from Micah Ecumenical Ministries were on hand to raise the shed roof!

Habalis Construction Inc. and Rappahannock Restoration planned and built the shed as well as donating their time and framing materials. Rappahannock Roofing Company Inc. donated the slate for the roof, and Nash Roofing donated the installation of the roof. Olde Towne Window and Door donated the door.