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Press Release: Open Table Celebrates Official Opening of Maynard Annex Building

Open Table Celebrates Official Opening of Maynard Annex Building

Additional space facilitates both flexibility and expansion of on-site and mobile food pantry programs 

Concord and Maynard, MA (January 27, 2025) – Open Table, the MetroWest charity dedicated to fighting hunger and building healthy communities, today officially inaugurated its annex building located at 39R Main Street in Maynard with a community celebration that included local dignitaries, volunteers, supporters, and staff. Contiguous to the existing Open Table food pantry at 33 Main Street, the new warehouse space centralizes food storage in one place in support of the food pantry’s on-site and mobile pantry programs.

“While there are many local food pantries serving individual towns, Open Table provides groceries and prepared meals to individuals across 21 communities,” said Alexandra DePalo, executive director, Open Table. “The new annex building allows us to consolidate food storage in adjacent properties, makes it easier to move food in and out of our pantry, and gives us more flexibility to accept food donations because we have the space to store it properly.”

Overall, the new annex allows Open Table to:

  • Offer more food choices to clients and guests,
  • Expand its mobile programs, and
  • Increase its capacity for prepared meals. 

The annex building has a 3000-square-foot main floor with high ceilings as well as 1500 additional square feet of storage on the second floor. The main floor has been outfitted with both a 12-foot-by-12-foot walk-in refrigerator and a 12-foot-by-12-foot walk-in freezer, which enables Open Table to keep more perishable and frozen grocery items on-site. The newly redesigned space also creates operational efficiencies for the Open Table kitchen, which will use the walk-in freezer in the main building for prepared meals.

In addition, the Annex features a driveway that the Open Table truck can back into, allowing staff to wheel food in and out of the truck. A roof canopy with rolling coil doors connects the annex to the adjacent pantry so that food can move between buildings protected from the elements. 

Open Table executive director Alexandra DePalo, Open Table BOD chair emeritus Deena Whitfield, representative Jamie Eldridge, and current Open Table BOD chair Barbara Fisher celebrate the opening of the new Open Table Annex in Maynard.

Despite the high electrical demand in the annex, the building offers opportunities for Open Table to minimize its carbon footprint. A new external electrical outlet enables both the van and truck to be plugged in and remain refrigerated without their engines running. Eventually, Open Table hopes to install solar panels on the annex roof to further reduce its electrical consumption. 

The Annex building was purchased in 2022 and renovated in 2024. The $1.1 million undertaking was funded by a series of generous donations, grants, and legislative earmarks. “This project would not have been possible without the tremendous support of our local legislators, donors and supporters. Their commitment to Open Table’s mission is amazing,” remarked DePalo.

Open Table worked with Dewing Schmid Kearns Architects + Planners of Concord (DSK) to design the new space and BBS Builders of Leominster for the build out. “It was wonderful to work with people who took such great care to complete this project while minimizing the impact on our day-to-day operations. We could not have asked for a better team,” said DePalo. 

About Open Table

Open Table is a 501(c)(3) established in 1989. The organization works to address hunger in the local community by providing healthy food in a welcoming environment while respecting the dignity and diversity of those served. For more information, visit: https://www.opentable.org/

Media Contact

Joan Geoghegan
617-417-2320
[email protected]