Spotlight: A Place at the Table

About A Place at the Table
A Place at the Table aims to provide a sense of community and good food for all regardless of an individual’s monetary means. It is a pay-what-you-can café. This means that customers can pay the suggested price for their meal, less than the suggested price (as long as they pay at least $3), more than the suggested price, pay through volunteering, or pay using a Token from their community partners. You can pay it forward by tipping, paying more for your own meal, volunteering, or buying a $10 Token to hand out yourself in the community. 

Maggie Kane, who has a history of working at soup kitchens, conceptualized A Place at the Table in February of 2015 and opened it in January of 2018. Maggie wanted to create an inclusive and personal experience for all. She struggled with the  experience associated with soup kitchens, as people aren’t able to choose their meals, can’t sit with others and share their meals, and have to rush to finish their meals due to time constraints  

If you want to learn more about Maggie Kane and the founding of A Place at the Table, watch her Ted Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/maggie_kane_food_for_thought_choice_and_dignity  

Volunteering
Due to COVID-19, A Place at the Table is not back to full capacity with volunteers, but they still provide many opportunities for volunteering. Recently, A Place at the Table welcomed back those who would like to “pay” for their meal through volunteering, as well as anyone interested in a weekly volunteer shift. They currently only offer Saturday and Sunday shifts and can have from 50-90 volunteers each day. You must be at least 15 years old to volunteer. At this time, groups are not able to be accommodated for volunteering. Volunteering at A Place at the Table offers a warm, friendly atmosphere and is an excellent opportunity to give back to your community. 

If you would like to learn more about A Place at the Table’s volunteer opportunities, click this link: https://tableraleigh.org/volunteer