Community Table
By: Marchelle McConnell
Updated: May 25, 2009
Kendallville, Indiana has one of the highest unemployment rates in the state, and to help residents in these trying economic times, leaders in the Kendallville community have come together to create Community Table.
This organization is able to provide a meal Monday and Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., to anyone who wants to eat no matter what their economic status.
Today unemployment is a reality for millions of Americans, and many residents in Kendallville know exactly how it feels.
Whitney Weber, an attendee at Community Table says “ You know I’ve talked to a lot of people here and they all always say the same thing, thank God for this program, because if it wasn’t here, who’s going to eat Monday and Thursday.”
Kristen Johnson, the Director of United Way of Noble County, and organizer of Community Table says “The long term aim of community table is to feed people during crisis, and get them the help they need to reaching out beyond the poverty level.”
This organization serves about 500 free meals a week, but that’s not all they do. They also provide resources to help people find jobs and overcome financial problems.
Mayor Suzanne Handshoe of Kendallville says “We have a resource table here; which allows people to look for jobs or connect to organizations and apply to jobs or for food stamps and unemployment. Kind of walks them through the steps.
Not only do they have the community table, but they have the share table. It goes back to the old concept of bartering, in which people can exchange food, services, or hygiene products.
Johnson says “The reason we started the share table was because we had people who wanted to donate, but food safety regulations don’t allow us to serve donated items, so we made this sharing table for people who could not donate money, but had other goods to donate.”
Mayor Suzanne Handshoe says the creation of this program is a direct effect of the declining economy. “These are very trying time for our community and I’m proud we have been able to do this, but not proud that we had to do this.”
Though creative thinking and planning Kendallville has found a way to help!
Johnson says “I can honestly say even though there so many unemployed, the outpouring of support for the community has been tremendous, we have been receiving unbelievable donations of food, funding and equipment. It’s very heart warming and makes me proud to live in Nobel County.”
For more information on Community Table, or how you can donate visit www.uwnoble.org and click on the tab labeled Community Table, or call (260) 636-8929.
