By: Ryan Duey

For 10 years, Common Table of Manhattan has been collaborating with local churches to offer free community meals to the homeless population and those struggling with food insecurity in the community.

Debbie Nuss, Board of Directors Chair, talked about how Common Table got started.

“The effort started in 2014 with two churches offering meals three nights a week, and by 2018 churches were serving meals seven nights a week. There were seven different churches involved. So, 2024 was our 10-year anniversary, and I can only recall maybe a handful of times that we didn’t serve a meal in those 10 years.”

After 10 years of collaboration and location changes, Common Table has partnered with the local School District to provide meals solely at one location.  Starting this week all meals will be served in one place, providing a dedicated place for people to gather year-round. Nuss spoke more about the new partnership.

“We have moved to a single site location in partnership with USD 383. We will be using the cafeteria at the Lincoln Education Center. In recent years the building housed their 9th graders. When they decided to move their 9th graders to their main campus, this meant the cafeteria space in that building was no longer going to be utilized. So, Common Table approached USD 383 about whether or not we could move all of our activity into that space.”

As a nonprofit organization, Common Table relies on grants and donations to continue feeding the hungry. They also rely heavily on volunteers to help prepare and serve those nightly meals. Nuss said with the new transition into one location volunteers and donations are needed more than ever.  If you would like to donate or volunteer visit www.mhkcommontable.org.