Despite being in their newer location in downtown Carrboro for more than a year, the nutrition nonprofit TABLE has a lot of celebrate — and did so by holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday.

TABLE’s leaders and community dignitaries gathered at 311 East Main Street to cap off its full renovation of its permanent space, sharing tours to display its improved loading dock for trucks, a walk-in cooler and expanded, fully-functional kitchen. The projects are some of the long-term changes TABLE made after moving into the building last January as it transitioned from the 209 East Main Street space to a larger location just a block away. After fundraising through 2023, the nonprofit reached the $3.25 million necessary to complete the purchase of the space — which is four times bigger than its prior home — free of any debt.

TABLE Executive Director Ashton Tippins (center, with scissors) and Carrboro Mayor Barbara Foushee (center, right) stand with other TABLE staffers to cut the ribbon at 311 East Main Street. (Photo via the Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro.)

With the move, TABLE says it has increased the number of children it serves from 850 to more than 1,100 each week through its TABLE@Home food access program, which delivers a mix of fresh produce and non-perishables to families’ front doors.

“We are so grateful for the incredible support we’ve received from our community over the years and especially at the ribbon-cutting ceremony,” Executive Director Ashton Tippins said. “Thanks to everyone who came out and helped make our new space a reality – it’s truly a reflection of what we can accomplish together. At TABLE, we’ve always believed that every child – no matter their background – deserves access to fresh, healthy food. Our new home allows us to serve more children, engage more volunteers, and keep building the kind of inclusive, caring community where everyone is welcome.”

TABLE has operated in Orange County since 2008, starting as a weekly food assistance team delivering food for a dozen Chapel Hill-Carrboro elementary students. Since then, its operations have expanded to cover children of all ages throughout the county — including introducing the TABLE Marketplace model in the summer of 2021, which allows families to pick out food in a grocery-style setting at TABLE’s office. In total, the nonprofit has shared more than 3.4 million meals and snacks with 91% of participating families attesting that their children eat more fruits and vegetables than the families could provide for them alone.

 

Featured photo via TABLE.

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