Common Table

Goal: $40,000.00

Specific Need

Moving into the Lincoln Education Center at 901 Poyntz in 2025 has been an exciting next chapter for Common Table and our hopes for 2026 are even brighter.  Common Table is now a licensed commerical kitchen with the State Department of Agriculture and no deficiencies were noted during our inspection this past year - a standard we intend to maintain.

Common Table hired a full-time paid kitchen manager in 2025.  Meg prepares hot, nutritious meals Monday through Friday.  Volunteer cooks prepare the meals on Saturday and Sunday.  Common Table had the good fortune to have its first executive director donate their time during 2025.  Now Common Table has hired its first paid full-time executive director.   Bethany Stock joined Common Table the first part of April as its new executive director.  Her passion for our mission is already evident in her interactions with our guests and volunteers.
 

Additionally, Common Table's operating expenses include the purchase of food from a wholesaler, Harvesters, and the Department of Children and Families.   As with everything our food costs have gradually increased over the year at the same time that the number of guests we served increased. 

Common Table's need is quite simple - to be able to pay the salaries of a modest staff - a full-time executive director and full-time kitchen manager, purchase the food needed to feed people in our community who are hungry - hungry for food and hungry for community - and to cover a portion of our operating expenses.

Common Table is fortunate to receive support from its founding member churches and volunteers and is grateful for the support from new churches and new volunteers. But the support received on Grow Green Match Day can be the the bridge to help us continue to create community one meal at a time.

Mission

Common Table's mission is to build community one meal at a time. 

Our vision is a community that collaborates to address food insecurity by providng a space where empathy is fostered through social interactions for everyone - no questions asked;  where quality, nutritious meals are served; and education about food preparation and nutrition is provided.

Profile

Common Table grew out of a report to the USD 383 Board of Education in 2014 about the number of children who were self-reporting as homeless (approximately 250) and a recent community needs assessmsent that identified food insecurity as a top issue of concern in the community. After learning this, several community leaders got together to brainstorm solutions and created the idea of Common Table.

Common Table started as a collaboration of churches that offered a free community meal in the evening in the downtown district. At the start, dinners were served three nights a week and in less than four years grew to be served every single evening. Several breakfasts and sack lunches were also served throughout the week. 

In 2021 Common Table became a 501(c)(3) organization, allowing the organization to qualify for grants and other donations further enabling us to  further our mission of building community one meal at a time.

In June 2023 Common Table entered into a memorandum of understanding with USD 383 allowing for the use of the cafeteria at 901 Poyntz Avenue (former MHS East Campus now called the Lincoln Education Center).  

Being able to serve a meal in the same location 365 days a year meant less confusion on the part of the community about where to go for a meal; more opportunities to engage volunteers from throughout the community; the chance to involve churches beyond the downtown area; and welcoming individuals who might have been hesitant to cross a church threshold.

Common Table served its first meal at the Lincoln Education Center on Tuesday, January 7, 2025.  That snowy day we served meals to 16 individuals.  For the period ending December 31, 2025  we served 25,779 meals, which equates to about 70 meals per day.  The highest number of meals served on a single day was 104 on March 31.  

The bottom line is that no one should be hungry and no one should be lonely.  Common Table ensures that anyone - everyone - can have at least one hot meal a day, no questions asked and can find a place for social interactions and companionship.