Thursday’s Table, a community success story

 

Thursday’s Table is a program of the Northfield Community Action Center designed to provide a hot and healthy meal to people in Northfield who could benefit from a free, nutritious meal.  Through the collaboration of the CAC, Northfield School District and the City of Northfield, free meals are served every Thursday evening from 5:00 to 6:30.

Mimi Trevino and Judy Bickel Thursday's Table Thursday's Table Thursday's Table

I interviewed Thursday’s Table project manager Mimi Trevino (left in left photo) yesterday afternoon at the Northfield Community Resource Center (NCRC). We were joined by Community Action Center (CAC) Project Manager Judy Bickel. After two months of operation, there have been some changes, including the involvement of local churches in helping to provide volunteers. They’re busier than expected, serving nearly 200 each week.

Click play to listen. 6 minutes, 30 seconds.

Peter SchmitzDavid-Koenig

Left: Northfield Senior Citizens board member Peter Schmitz was doing greeter duties at the entrance to the NCRC.

Right: A tip-of-the-blogger hat to David Koenig for being one of the people who helped create Thursday’s Table and assisted in arranging for my visit this week.

Want to volunteer or donate?

3 Comments

  1. David Koenig said:

    Thank you for this coverage!

    Yes, it has been a community success from the standpoint of those who are being served, those who have volunteered and those who have donated funds to support the program.

    Our original budget was based on an expectation that between 75 and 100 people would dine each week. This was the experience of similar programs in Richfield and Owatonna that had been well established. Due to the great work of the CAC and an excellent marketing campaign by Neuger Communications, we are feeding nearly twice as many as we expected and have been doing so since the first day of the program.

    We know that there are more in the community that are in need and have not yet joined us. So, we expect to see continued growth in the number who dine with us. Donations to support this additional demand, beyond our first budgets, are still needed!

    Anyone can donate online at http://www.northfieldcac.org/programs/thursdays-table/donate-2 or contact info@thursdaystable.org and ask to be connected to Don Sahling, who has been graciously donating his time towards raising funds for the program.

    Thank you again!

    May 30, 2008
  2. Stephanie Henriksen said:

    Thank you for starting this program, David. I happened to be in the building yesterday and asked the greeter about the program. He pointed me down the hall and I joined a table, where two women were sharing their job hunting experiences. A nutritious hot meal and good company.

    At this time, when people are overwhelmed with the rising cost of food at the grocery store, this is a safe, welcoming place on Thursday nights. I predict many more people will come.

    May 30, 2008

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