A big THANK YOU to everyone who donated to Community Table in the weeks and months since this crisis began. Some of you are donating for the first time. Some of you are longtime supporters who never let us down. Either way, we are so grateful for the outpouring of support that allows us to continue our vital work of feeding our friends and neighbors in need.

Here is one of the many comments we receive from the people we help, thanks to the generous and caring support we receive from the community. Your support truly makes a difference!

Dear Ms. Martin,

After visiting the Community Table this past week, I felt compelled to reach out directly to you.

Over the decades, I’ve held multiple professional and non-professional roles. I’ve been scrappy when I had to and extremely grateful when I didn’t. Unfortunately, between a high conflict divorce and Covid-19, I’ve found myself at a loss both emotionally and financially.

Yet, I have two teens who are depending upon me for all the things, including food.

While I was embarrassed by my circumstances and, yes, waited till the last hour till I summoned the humility to walk through the doors of the Community Table, all I found inside was generosity and care. From the volunteer who walked me through the paperwork, to the intake volunteer, Marilyn, who saw through my tears with compassion, to the volunteer who encouraged me to take all that was available under my plan (she clearly saw my hesitancy), I felt nothing but support. No judgment. No shame. Only dignity. (And, I could literally choose the ingredients I knew that my children would consume! I nearly squealed with excitement to find fresh kale and swiss chard in the refrigerator.)

I’m not sure what kind of training program your volunteers go through to deliver the exceptional service and humanity that they delivered to me that day, but it should be a model for food banks nationwide. Thank you for doing this work. Thank you for being there in my dark hour. I will never forget the comfort that your organization and volunteers offered me. It was just as important, if not more, than the food I got to take home.

Sincerely,

A Single Mom