News from Around the Table – May 2023

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12 Mobile Programs

Open Table partners with local organizations including Councils on Aging, faith groups, and towns, to help eliminate the barrier to food access often caused by limited transportation options in our suburban communities. Open Table drivers transport groceries and prepared meals to partner organizations or deliver directly to clients registered with our partners—taking food directly to those that cannot come to us.

Summer Interns and the Open Table refrigerated truck

8,474 Individuals Served

Thanks to your support, we have provided healthy food to 8,474 individuals in our community over the past year. This includes local families, seniors, adults, and children—people who may very well be your neighbors or friends. Your generosity makes a tangible difference in their lives.

Open Table volunteer delivering food to in our Drive-thru Pantry

Over 24,718 Hours of Service

Open Table volunteers are a dedicated group, committed to improving the lives of their neighbors. During the past fiscal year, volunteers worked over 24,718 hours in our kitchen, pantry, distribution line, transporting food, and behind the scenes. We are always in need of volunteers! Consider sharing your time and skill with us and making a difference.

Learn about Volunteering

574 Dedicated Volunteers

We LOVE our VOLUNTEERS! Last year 574 people helped in our kitchens, pantry, and behind the scenes.

We always welcome new volunteers. Consider sharing your time and skill with us and making a difference.

Learn about Volunteering

Make a Difference

YOU can make a difference! Volunteer your time and talents, organize a food drive with friends and neighbors, or create Kids’ Bags to bring joy and nourishment to local children. You can also make a direct impact by donating funds to support our mission. Together, we can fight hunger and strengthen our community!

Help Fight Hunger

Providing Healthy Food for 35 Years

Founded in 1989 as a Community Meals program offering weekly dinners at First Parish Church in Concord, Open Table quickly expanded to meet the growing need for groceries, developing an ad hoc pantry to distribute food. Over the past 35 years, the organization has evolved significantly, expanding its reach and impact while staying true to its core mission. Throughout this journey, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to serve every individual with dignity, honoring the diversity of the communities we support.

Learn More

12 Local Farms

Over the past year, Aurelia’s Garden, Blue Meadow Farm, Drumlin Farm, The Food Project, Gaining Ground, Honey Pot Hill Orchards, Hutchins Farm, Scimone Farm, Stow Community Gardens, Traveling Cap Mushrooms, and Verrill Farm generously donated fresh fruits and vegetables to Open Table. We also receive in-season produce from school, faith groups, and other community gardens. These fresh, local items supplement our other sources, helping us provide nutritious, farm-fresh produce year-round to those in need.

1,161 Individual Donors

The majority of Open Table’s financial support comes from generous individuals like you. Last year, 1,161 households and organizations contributed to our mission to fight hunger and support our community. As a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization (EIN 04-3048933), your donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. With our Platinum rating from Candid (formerly Guidestar), you can trust in our commitment to transparency and accountability.

Donations Directly Support Food Relief Programs

Open Table remains an organization primarily fueled by volunteer power, with a minimal paid staff. While we do incur overhead costs for our facilities and vehicles, we are committed to keeping expenses low and maximizing efficiency. As a result, over 90 cents of every dollar donated goes directly toward supporting our food relief programs. We are proud to hold a Platinum rating from Candid (formerly Guidestar) and a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, ensuring that your investment in our community is used wisely and effectively.

Who Supports Us

8 Grocery Store Partners

Eight local grocery stores generously donate food to Open Table, contributing 18% of the total food we distributed last year. These donations include a wide variety of items such as bread and baked goods, prepared dishes, meats and other deli products, fresh produce, and shelf-stable groceries.

Our regular contributors in the past year are Assabet Co-op Market, Crosby’s Marketplace, Debra’s Natural Gourmet, Donelan’s Supermarket in Acton, Roche Bros. in Acton, Stop & Shop in Acton, Sudbury Farms, and Trader Joe’s. We are deeply grateful for their ongoing support in helping us provide for those in need.

Children and Seniors

Open Table guests include individuals, couples, seniors, and families. 30% of our clients are children under the age of 18 and 15% are seniors age 65 or older. To better meet their needs, Open Table provides tailored food offerings, including senior lunches, summer lunch packs for kids through our Fuel Up for Summer program, kid-friendly prepared meals, and fun Kids’ Bags.

Families with children can receive Kids Bags with their weekly groceries from our pantry programs. The bags, which can be ordered online or in person, include shelf-stable, packaged items such as juices & milks, cereals, fruit cups, granola bars & crackers, and easy to prepare small meals. The bags are usually hand-decorated and add an element of fun to a trip to the food pantry. Creating Kids’ Bags is a great group activity!

Learn about Creating Kids’ Bags

22,700 Pantry Visits and Deliveries

Over the past year, Open Table provided 22,700 food distributions through our drive-thru pantry and mobile programs—a 32% increase from the previous year. This growth highlights both the rising need in our community and Open Table’s expanding ability to meet that demand.

80,362 Prepared Meals

Open Table’s commercial kitchen produces delicious and nutritious prepared meals, thanks to the hard work of our chefs and volunteers. Over the past year, we created 80,362 meals, which were distributed to clients in various ways, including frozen meals for easy reheating, senior lunches, and lunch packs for our Fuel Up for Summer program. These meals play a vital role in ensuring our community has access to healthy meal options, especially for those with limited cooking facilities, skills, or time.

Volunteers chopping lettuce for prepared meals at Open Table

882,031 Pounds of Food

In the past year, Open Table distributed over 880,000 pounds of food through our drive-thru pantry and mobile programs. Each week, we provide a variety of groceries, including fresh produce, dairy, eggs, meats, proteins, and shelf-stable essentials. While nearly half of the food comes from the Greater Boston Food Bank, we also rely on generous in-kind donations from local grocery stores, farms, community groups, and individuals. To ensure we meet the cultural and dietary needs of our clients, we also purchase key items, ensuring that everyone receives the essential food they need.

Learn about Donating Food

Thank You!

Serving 21 Cities & Towns

Open Table’s pantry service is open to those who reside in 21 cities and towns in the central Middlesex county area.

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