Room at the Table
-By Jennifer Cooper
Sometimes the circumstances fueling food insecurity and the number of people in need can feel overwhelming. Still, here is a bright side. We all know that progress begins one step at a time and, in this case, one helping hand and heart at a time. This commitment for NRV neighbors to help one another with a hand up is beautifully realized in the work of both Room at the Table and For Your Table. Each began with a commitment to help those in need in our community, according to co-coordinator Melissa Lawson.
Room at the Table began at Christiansburg Presbyterian Church in June of 2020. It distributes meals via drive-through on Tuesday evenings starting at 4:30pm at CPC, 107 West Main Street, as a service to the community. Currently, the volunteers are preparing 110 meals. There are roughly 40 volunteers who donate their time to purchase food and prepare meals. Meals vary from week to week. Sub sandwiches, lasagna, baked chicken, pork barbecue sandwiches, chili, tacos are commonly prepared as entrees with various sides and a chocolate chip cookie. Most weeks all of the meals are distributed by 5pm.
For Your Table food pantry boxes are also distributed as needed. Currently, they are distributing 20 boxes each Tuesday with the meals. .
“It made sense to offer that as a one stop shop so we the recipients didn’t have to make a separate trip. Especially in today’s environment of outrageous gas prices,” said co-coordinator Tim Lawson.
For Your Table, food pantry was established at CPC in November of 2021 as a second phase of Room at the Table, Melissa Lawson said. For Your Table provides non-perishable items food to the community. Currently, they distribute three to nine boxes of food a week on Saturdays from 10am to noon at 825 Park Street (Three Strand Church) in Christiansburg. These items include canned proteins, like tuna and chicken, canned vegetables and fruits, cereals, and peanut butter.
Three Strand Church, Belmont Christian Church, and Blue Ridge Church are partner churches in For Your Table food pantry. Most of the funding is through donations. Donations are accepted through Christiansburg Presbyterian Church, 107 West Main Street, Christiansburg, VA 24073 (phone 540-382-2802). Donors need to note whether donations are for Room at the Table or For Your Table.
Anyone in the community who needs a meal is welcome to come.
Said Tim Lawson, “We don’t care what their income situation is. If they have a need, we want them to feel comfortable in coming for help.”
