Author: Abigail Carpenter
This article is part of a series on rural challenges and success stories in Western North Carolina, commissioned by Hometown Strong, Governor Cooper’s initiative to support rural communities. To read more about Hometown Strong, please visit hometownstrong.nc.gov. Each essay is a lightly edited interview with Abigail Carpenter, the HTS Narratives of Success Apprentice with Hometown Strong.
The Community Table is an organization addressing food insecurity in the town of Sylva, North Carolina. The organization is located in a small, wooden building in the heart of Sylva, just past the downtown region. I sat down with Paige Christy, the executive director of Community Table. I first asked what had led her to where we sat today.
After a career in the outdoor industry, Paige Christy was presented with the opportunity to step in at Community Table as director by a close friend. Paige was hesitant at first, not having extensive experience in the non-profit space. However, Paige decided to take the position, and with the supportive environment of the organization and some self-teaching, she soon felt right at home in the role of executive director.
Under her leadership, the organization increased its services from serving10 people a week with its meal program to serving 100 people per day. Their meal program has also shifted to a farm-to-table model, with the support of the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project and local farms. This powerful partnership has provided nutrient-dense, local food to their meal program customers, all while supporting local Appalachian farms.
The Community Table takes pride in its no-questions-asked approach to service. Any person who comes to their scheduled meal-times is guaranteed food and does not need to produce any documentation regarding their need. This allows the organization to assess the immediate needs of individuals and to serve as many people as possible.
While they embrace this approach, it makes them ineligible for many federal programs that require documentation of the needs of individuals receiving assistance. For example, many food assistance non-profits require proof that the customer’s income is within a certain range before they can receive food, to maintain records that support current and future grant applications. For the Community Table, though, their mission in addressing immediate needs is upheld by the organization’s willingness to adapt to the challenges surrounding funding limitations through alternative grants and donations.
Paige shared with me that when you are the director of such a small nonprofit, your job involves anything and everything. Her duties include managing relationships with food providers, mopping floors, writing grants, and so much more. With all of these responsibilities, managing complicated grant applications adds stress to the organization. Paige shared that their organization relies on grants to continue operating, but long applications often take her focus away from other important duties at Community Table.
Paige spoke of many challenges associated with being a small, rural non-profit. Affordable and quality internet is sparse in Western North Carolina. Being located in Sylva means that Community Table often fronts the high cost of internet which is not particularly reliable. This makes it difficult to communicate with customers and food producers, while also limiting the access that the organization has to grant resources.
Another challenge is the housing market in the region. Since the pandemic, housing costs in Western North Carolina have increased dramatically. In 2020, the median home cost was $201,000. Today, the median home cost is $302,000. This is largely due to a trend of the purchasing of seasonal homes, which drives up costs for local residents. The housing crisis has also led to a higher demand for assistance from the community in Sylva. Paige shared that many people simply cannot afford groceries anymore due to rising rent costs. Many people in the community have to choose between losing housing and paying for groceries, meaning that many rely on Community Table to keep a roof over their heads. Paige shared that 45% of their food bank customers are working families. This is stark compared to before the pandemic when Community Table mainly supported the elderly or homeless populations in Sylva.
Community Table is located in an older building and extensive repairs have been an issue for the organization. From roofing to flooring, there is always something that needs to be fixed. While they are grateful to have a building used to serve their community, the current costs of housing not only increase the demands for their services but make purchasing a new building nearly impossible. Paige also shared with me the struggles of the staff at Community Table, and of supporting yourself with a small nonprofit salary. She stated, “The reality of the nonprofit space is that those who work for nonprofits are often one missed paycheck away from needing the services that they work to provide.” Despite the low pay in jobs like these, most staff feel that the work is rewarding in other ways - knowing that they make a difference and help support families in their communities that are struggling.
Paige, as an example, shared a story of a working family who recently experienced a rise in their rent and had to turn to the Community Table for assistance. She spoke of how inspired she was to see how their volunteers embraced the family to ensure their comfort with receiving help. The space that Community Table has created provides a supportive and caring environment alongside food assistance. Paige reflected on how rewarding it is to see the impact that she has in her community through her work. Being able to lift the burden of food costs for families in her area empowers her to continue working in the nonprofit space.
To learn more about Community Table or support their mission, please visit https://communitytable.org/donate-today/ or contact Paige at 828-586-6782.