How To Help

Volunteers

We depend upon our community to support our mission of addressing food insecurity and hunger by providing both volunteer hours and financial contributions.

Comments From Our Guests...

There are days when The Community Table provides me with my first and only meal, and a well-balanced meal, too. The staff and volunteers are always friendly and caring. If The Table wasn't here I'd be hungry, and lonely, too.
The Community Table has really been a blessing to me and my family. If it wasn't for The Table and the people of Jackson County, we would not have a meal sometimes.
The Community Table has been a godsend to me and my wife. Since we are out of work, it's been nice to know you are here to provide meals for us. We look forward to coming here because we know that we will have a good meal in a welcoming environment.

Typically we need 2 or 3 folks to help out from 11 until 3:30, but some weeks we may need several more. Volunteer with a big smile From 3:30 to 6:30 we need folks to help with dinner service to our guests, and occasionally with jobs around the house. We usually need 4 to 6 folks during the second shift to help wait tables, fill drinks, plate food from the steam table, wash dishes, etc. If you are a new volunteer, we ask that you come in prior to the beginning of dinner service at 4 so that you may receive a short training session.

We also have other volunteer opportunities available with special events, Food for Kids, The Community Garden, and we are often in need of maintenance and office help.

Please email us at ctofjackson@gmail.com or call us at 586.6782 for more information. Thank you!

Donations

The Community Table depends on donations from individuals, from you, to keep our doors open. As a relatively small organization we receive little in grant funding.

Financial contributions may be made safely and securely through the Donate Now button at the top of each page or by mailing donations to us at: The Community Table, P.O. Box 62, Dillsboro, NC 28725 or stop by and see us! Directions may be found on the About Us and FAQs pages. Please contact us with any questions you may have.

You can donate to The Community Table in honor of someone as a gift, anytime of year. You choose the amount, and we'll gladly send a special card acknowledging your generous gift to your chosen recipients. It's a meaningful idea for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, weddings, or as a special thank you.

A volunteer washing dishes in the kitchen

Food Drives

The Community Table has always depended upon in-kind donations of food. Over 90% of our food comes from our community. We need all kinds of food to be used in meal preparation and also to distribute to our clients in food boxes. We have seen a 600% increase in the need for food boxes since summer 2008, and that number is expected to grow. Please see our Wish List for ideas.

Donation Pickup

Volunteers are needed to pick up donations from the Sylva Wal-Mart five to six days each week. Donations are usually available for pickup around 10 a.m. A large vehicle and a strong back are helpful. For more information, contact Table Director Amy Grimes at ctofjackson@gmail.com or call at 586-6782.

GoodShop.com and GoodSearch.com

Go to GoodShop.com, enter The Community Table as your chosen charity, and shop hundreds of well-known and diverse stores online. Each time you make a purchase, a portion of your sale will be donated to The Community Table. Essentially, you can help us for FREE! You can find everything from photo prints to contacts to rental cars -almost anything you can think of- through GoodShop.com. Try it next time you're shopping online!

Just by doing an internet search using GoodSearch.com, powered by Yahoo!, you can help support The Community Table. Again, enter The Community Table as your designated charity and begin searching!

Food Lion

Every time you shop at Food Lion and present your MVP Card the amount you spend on qualified items is automatically credited to the local school and or charity that you choose to support. The Community Table's Organization ID is 250345.

All Food Lion brand products are considered qualifying items.
Food Lion will credit a percentage of all of the dollars spent back to the participating schools and charities.
Donations will be distributed 3 times per year. April, August, December.
Participating schools and charities can earn up to $2,500 per distribution.

Check out Food Lion's MVP Registration for more details.

Blue Plate Special and Empty Bowl Fundraisers

Please support us by attending our monthly BPS and our annual Empty Bowl fundraisers. Click on the Events page for more information.