Our mission is simple.
We provide healthy, delicious meals to our neighbors at risk for hunger in a dignified, welcoming, and inclusive, restaurant-style experience.
We address food insecurity and strengthen the community through the timeless activity of sharing meals together.
Modeled after The Community Table of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, TCT Rockbridge serves as a connecting point between those in Lexington, Buena Vista, and Rockbridge County of Virginia, at risk for hunger and others who are able and willing to assist them.
Canadian anthropologist Gillian Crowther stresses that — sharing a meal with someone, eating and drinking together — is one of the most important manifestations of sociality in all cultures. Eating together confirms the sense of belonging and being part of a community.
We envision ourselves as a community gathering place where folks enjoy meals in a comfortable and dignified atmosphere, thereby avoiding the stigmas that are commonly associated with traditional “soup kitchen” models. Our dining room is open to all regardless of need, hence the name, “The Community Table.”
TCT serves approximately 200 meals a week, from food that may be sourced from Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, Rockbridge Area Relief Association, Campus Kitchen at Washington and Lee, and other area donors. In 2021 we served 3,403! Menus are largely determined by what proteins and vegetables are available. The restaurant is staffed by volunteers who wait tables, serve meals and assume all of the other responsibilities that are necessary for week-to-week operations.
Promoting a sense of community has become an essential element of The Community Table’s success. Therefore, it is imperative in our operating strategy that all people know their contributions are welcome and valued. TCT is committed to eliminating barriers that may potentially diminish, discourage or deny service to patrons and supporters based on income, race or any other social or economic factor.
The Community Table is an independent, nondenominational 501(c)(3) charitable organization not directly affiliated with any established business, church, civic or other non-profit organization. This lack of association to any specific group contributes to an overall sense of shared ownership within our community. Our volunteer and support efforts are not restricted by the requirements of any particular organization, nor are we obligated to interests that may lie outside of our stated strategic goals.