Our Mission
Open Table’s mission is to end hunger in our local community by providing healthy food in ways that respect the dignity and diversity of those served.
- Offering a wide variety of healthy and culturally appropriate food choices in our pantry and meal programs.
- Engaging a team of diverse, committed and passionate staff and volunteers
Values: We believe that people should not be hungry. We recognize that economic, racial and gender inequality are the main drivers of food insecurity. We welcome our neighbors in need with compassion and respect.
Vision: We strive to end hunger by addressing with our partners the systemic causes and immediate impacts of food insecurity.
Meeting the Needs of ALL
Open Table stands in support of the Black Lives Matter Movement. We join communities around the country and globe mourning the lives of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many others black lives that have been lost as a result of systemic racism. A healthy community is one that rejects racism in all its forms.
Our board and staff pledge to work actively to identify all forms of bias within our programs and hiring processes, and if found, to address them through training and program modifications. Throughout our 30 year history, Open Table’s mission has been to provide healthy food in a welcoming environment while respecting the dignity of those we serve. We proudly and firmly recommit to this mission. Our continuing efforts to address food insecurity is just one step towards eliminating the health and social disparities that disproportionately impact communities of color. We welcome the opportunity to engage with our friends and neighbors in making our community and our country a more racially equitable place to live.
A Volunteer-Rich Organization
Open Table was established as a 501(c)3 in 1989 by a small group of volunteers. As the organization grew, it became clear that hiring of staff (a mix of full and part-time employees) was necessary to provide more consistency of service. The programs and operating teams manage the day-to-day logistical needs of the organization and a full administrative team supports the fundraising and communications aspects of the organization. But we continue to rely heavily on the generosity of over 600 volunteers each year to do everything from sorting food, to cooking, to transport, to serving clients. An all-volunteer fifteen-member board of directors serves as the main advising and strategic planning body.
Where Does Our Funding Go?
It’s a simple story: since we are primarily a volunteer organization and much of our food is provided at zero-cost, the majority of funding directly supports operations that directly help feed people.
Currently Open Table distributes bags of groceries, which include fresh produce, proteins, dairy, baked goods, and shelf-stable produces, to over 300 households each week and provides over 800 prepared meals to clients that hail from the Metro West suburbs. Open Table has received incredible support from the communities it serves through donations of food and funds, making it possible for us to continue to address food insecurity in our region.