By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
For years, Limestone County Churches Involved (LCCI) has been faithfully helping residents of Limestone County with distributing food and offering financial support to those who find themselves in need of assistance. In the past year, the Board realized that the partnership with the 40+ foundational churches needed to expand into the community as the mission and number of clients needing support was growing. Therefore, the Community Table Concept emerged. Their function has grown and transformed over the years, and their mission Scripture remains the same: Matthew 25:35, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me.”
Recently, I met with Sarah Chadwell and Deanna Fike to get more background on what, how, and most importantly why they have chosen this place as a ministerial “home.” Their prayer is that you will understand the Community Table needs both churches AND the community to help support families in crisis.
For Deanna, who spent years organizing donations in the back of the building and never saw herself as a manager, it began over a decade ago while on an extended trip in an RV where she observed the extensive homeless community there. Coming back to Athens, LCCI/Community Table seemed like a natural fit.
Sarah Chadwell is a Community Table board member, and has been a part of several local charitable organizations for many years. She comes from a background of broadcast journalism, and has gotten to deal with the complexities of the problem from the standpoint of reporting about it fairly and truthfully in the media. Sarah told me that the name change was the result of several factors; first and foremost was the need to create inclusion and collaboration with the community alongside the churches in order to better meet the growing needs in our city and county. In addition, it was felt that the name Community Table better reflects who they are and the partnerships they need to support local families.
Sarah went on to discuss some key points regarding the mission that will help to get the word out — both to people who need what Community Table “brings to the table,” and people who want to volunteer or support the mission in order to “set the Table.”
The Community Table is in a central location in Downtown Athens on the corner of Jefferson and Hobbs, right across from 1st United Methodist Church of Athens (which supplies the building space), and one of the blessings is that the location helps to lower prices when it comes to procuring food and supplies. Several local stores and restaurants are involved in donating surplus non-perishables, as well as bakery items and even some fresh items. Those places include Publix, Panera, Hometown Grocery, and Aldi’s. People are also encouraged to bring produce from their own gardens if they are experiencing a literal “bumper crop” and don’t have enough physical neighbors who can use it.
Another service is assistance with rent or utilities. Sometimes hard times just happen, and there are trained staff people at the Community Table who are able to look at the situation and make an equitable decision as to how to help appropriately with the funding available for those projects.
As crucial as food is, the Community Table is also highly vested in education, and sponsored the Daisy and John McCormack Backpack Event at the beginning of this school year. Kids in need could once again have new backpacks that were filled with supplies for that all important first-day-of-school experience.
Community Table also partners with LCDEA for an education opportunity called Elevate Limestone which provides no-cost adult education to obtain a GED or obtain skills such as welding and medical training.
The Community Table is open five days a week, and is a dependable, ethical, and well-run outfit that truly provides a winning situation for both recipients and those who support the mission.
Sarah also added, “We hope that the community and churches will join with our mission into the future. This partnership with our foundational churches and community will allow the Community Table to support our families well into the coming years.”
Lastly, the Community Table is a wonderful place to count your blessings and give them back. The fellowship, the camaraderie, and the joy that you have made a difference in the life of a family just can’t be topped. So, come, partake, and find YOUR seat “at The Table!”
By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
