Overview
TABLE is a non-profit organization with a mission to provide emergency food to hungry children in Chapel Hill and Carrboro areas.
TABLE was established in 2007 and since then has been dedicated to bring together students from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) and community members to fulfill its mission.
The house where TABLE stores and sorts all its food.
Photo credit: Susan Pierson
History
In 2006, Joy MacVane, a resident of Chapel Hill, began to leave cookies on the sidewalk of her home in downtown Chapel Hill for UNC-CH college students walking to campus. A year later, she left an invitation close to the cookies inviting students to visit her house to bake desserts for the nearby community soup kitchen, which served food for the hungry.
A dozen students went to her house and helped her to bake cakes. The students expressed their desire to contribute to the community, and identified the hungry children as a priority.
Later in 2007, MacVane and several of those students incorporated Table Ministries, Inc., now with the name TABLE.
Goals
TABLE has simple goals. It hopes to bring students from UNC-CH and community members from Chapel Hill and Carrboro together to donate time, money and supplies to provide healthy food to elementary kids. In 2010, school meal registration showed that nearly 25% of elementary students were at risk for hunger.
The organization provides meals and snacks for students to eat over weekends and other times when subsidized school meals are not available.
The organization also hopes to raise public awareness of the hunger problem facing many local children.
Additionally, TABLE holds programs and activities through which community members can help these children who are in need.
Donate
Community members can make tax deductible donations by writing a check or going to the donate page on TABLE's website.
The organization says that even $20 provides healthy food for a child for two weekends.
Volunteer Experience
"The time I spent volunteering at TABLE was amazing. I love knowing that I was helping needy children in my backyard." -Rebecca M., Durham resident
"Volunteering at TABLE is such a rewarding experience. I came with a group of friends, so we had fun, while still helping the community." -Sam M., Raleigh resident
Contact Information
Physical Address: 205 West Weaver Street, Carrboro, NC 27510
Website: http://www.tablenc.org/
Phone: (919) 636-4860
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TableNC
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TableNC
A shelf of food donated to TABLE. This food will be distributed to hungry children in Chapel Hill and Carrboro.
Photo credit: Susan Pierson
TABLE's welcome sign.
Photo credit: Susan Pierson
Sources
http://www.tablenc.org/, The Daily Tarheel, The Carrboro Citizen, Interviews with Rebecca M. and Sam M. (TABLE volunteers), Photos courtesy of Susan Pierson
