COVID-19 has changed the current times in many ways, which has spread from the national to the local level. Locally the coronavirus has affected the Community Table, which has seen a large increase in the number of meals handed out on a daily basis.
Community Table Coordinator Whitney Baldwin said, “We’d go from serving you know during the school year we’d average about 50 meals a day and then during the summer that goes up to 75 you know with kids being out. But we went from serving our 50 meals a day up to 300 pretty quickly.”
In addition to seeing a change in the number of meals being given, Community Table has also changed the way meals are handed out.
Baldwin said originally the Community Table decided to start delivery of meals to prepare for a blizzard, but later it was used to comply with CDC rules for COVID-19.
Surveys were handed out to identify the need in the community and to see how many people needed home delivery due to being unable to leave the house.
For those who are able to leave home, Community Table has recently opened a drive- thru on the south side of the Masonic building north of the Bank of the West.
Baldwin said the group is trying to be proactive and sustainable in case there is a local spread that would affect volunteers.
The drive-thru allows individuals to pick up meals from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday without leaving their car.
In order to receive a lunch, cars must enter the parking lot from 2nd Street and not block the parking lot or businesses, not exit the vehicle and must be present to pickup a sack lunch. Volunteers will bring sack lunches to the driver’s side.
Sack lunches will equal the number of people present in a vehicle. Sack lunches include a deli sandwich with a salty item and a sweet item. Baldwin said it costs the Community Table about one dollar per sack.
Baldwin said the group has received a lot of donations from the community and local businesses.
“The community has really come together in helping us and making sure that we’re steady and people are donating, whether it be baking goods or picking up chips or whatever they can do. The community has been really great with helping out,” she said.
Those interested in receiving meals through the community table can call (308) 455-9175 to be put on the list or to learn more.
The Community Table is accepting donations. Baldwin said the group is in need of Ziploc bags, cheese slices, deli meat, chips and baked goods. Monetary donations are also being accepted and can be sent to PO Box 5 Alliance, NE 69301.