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The Community Table for the Rockbridge Area, in collaboration with Rockbridge Area Transportation and Carilion Clinic, is partnering to serve meals in more locations throughout the greater Rockbridge area.
Beginning today, TCT will serve a Wednesday dinner at a new location around Rockbridge County on an eightweek rotation. Areas will include the Natural Bridge, Goshen, Glasgow, Raphine, Rockbridge Baths, Buena Vista, Effinger, and Kerrs Creek communities.
The first meal is at 6 p.m. today, Wednesday, at the Palmer Community Center at 1230 Blue Grass Trail. The Community Table is prepared to serve around 60 diners for the first meal, and all are welcome to attend free of charge.
Next Wednesday’s meal will be served in Raphine at a location yet to be announced.
TCT is developing the final schedule for the dinners and will update the community weekly with more information. The latest developments can be found on its website at www.communitytablerockbridge. org/location or on Facebook at The Community Table for the Rockbridge Area.
RATS will provide transportation for area residents to and from the meals, and local restaurants and caterers will prepare the meals.
If a diner would like a ride to dinner and back home, page 8 they can schedule a ride with RATS at (540) 4633346 “When the pandemic hit, TCT had to pivot to a drive-through-only model temporarily,” said Kate Gordon, TCT board president. “During that shift, we learned more about what patrons wanted and potential barriers to Monday night meals, such as distance and transportation.
“When we had the opportunity to partner with RATS and Carilion, it felt like a perfect way to reduce some of those barriers for our neighbors beyond Lexington,’ said Gordon. “TCT is about more than food, it’s about our relationships. And nothing brings people together better than the age-old tradition of sharing meals together.”
Currently, TCT serves a hot, chef-prepared meal every Monday night at 6 and Wednesday at noon at the Piovano/ Rockbridge Area Relief Association building on Spotswood Drive in Lexington. It also offers Friday lunches from 10 a.m. to noon at Fairfield Presbyterian Church in conjunction with the Helping Hands market.
However, driving to Lexington to receive meals can be a barrier for many people. Since partnering with RATS and Carilion Clinic, TCT was chosen as one of three programs nationwide by the Federal Transportation Authority and the National Center for Mobility Management to grow the program and expand its services.
During each meal, patrons can also provide input about area resources they would like better access to or would like to know more about in the future.
Anyone who would like to donate a dessert for the Wednesday meals or volunteer to help with service on any of the nights TCT serves the public can reach out to Erica Turman, TCT volunteer coordinator, via email at rockbridgecommunitytable@ gmail. com. - The Community Table currently serves more than 200 meals a week, from food that may be sourced from Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, Rockbridge Area Relief Association, Campus Kitchen at Washington and Lee, and other area donors. In 2022, it served 8,000 meals. Menus are largely determined by what proteins and vegetables are available. The restaurant is staffed by volunteers who wait tables, serve meals and assume all of the other responsibilities that are necessary for week-to-week operations.
The Community Table is a United Wayapproved agency and works in close association with local governments, social service organizations, and the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank as a member agency.
