Written by Emma Weber // Photo by Caleb Chunn
A new student-run food bank opened to fight against food insecurity on campus. Located in the refurbished Kendall Hall, The Table, as it is named, offers students goods ranging from food to toiletries. This idea came to senior and current student board president of The Table Tucker Lovell during chapel. After sending a text to President Mike Williams and connecting with Dr. Andrea Morris, the assistant to the provost for strategic initiatives, Lovell’s idea came to life.
“Last year I decided to text Dr. Williams out of the blue because he gave us his phone number,” Lovell said. “I told him it would be great if Harding decided to start a food drive during the Christmas season, which is what my high school did, and he immediately sent me to Dr. Morris. Collectively, we both decided it was a good idea to have not just a food drive but a food insecurity mitigation strategy, then we came up with The Table.”
The Table aims to meet students in their needs — whatever they may be.
“Our tagline is ‘Come and Be Filled,’ and that’s physically and spiritually,” Lovell said. “Students who suffer from food insecurity can come in here and get what they need and even what they want. We can supply them with that.”
Senior volunteer coordinator Milyn Ross shared Lovell’s sentiment for serving the students of Harding.
“All you have to do is come in, fill out our information sheet, show your Harding ID,” Ross said. “That process takes 30 seconds, then you get the benefits.”
Volunteering for The Table is also something that engages the community. Ross said she is encouraged by the people who have come to help, as well as excited for the ways in which the volunteer process can expand. All volunteers must sign a confidentiality agreement to foster trustworthy relationships with those they are serving.
“Without our volunteers, [The Table] cannot be open,” Ross said. “It’s been lax because we opened this week. Hopefully, when we get bigger, we can expand into deliveries. This is exactly what it means to be a Christian. This is an opportunity to see the people who come in and the benefit of this on campus.”
Volunteers can take on different roles with The Table. Stockers organize and shelve the items, greeters keep track of the people coming in by checking them into the system based on their H number, and cashiers keep the inventory list updated by checking off the items shoppers choose.
Senior Natalie Denham said she has enjoyed her experience volunteering for The Table.
“In my work with The Table, it has been fantastic to see the excitement of all of the volunteers as everything comes together,” Denham said.
Support from alumni has been crucial to the contribution of this resource. Many from the items were funded through donations of alumni who believe in the work. This support has been beneficial in bringing together the vision of Lovell and Morris.
“My favorite part of The Table is the mission behind it and the support that we have received from alumni and others on campus,” Denham said. “Dr. Andrea Morris alongside Tucker Lovell saw an issue that a portion of our community deals with daily, and they did something about it.”
Denham said she hopes The Table serves as a reminder that not everyone on campus has the same life experiences and privileges.
“Most importantly, I hope that those who come to The Table feel the love of Jesus,” Denham said.
The Table is a resource open and available to all Harding students who feel inclined. Contact Milyn Ross for volunteer opportunities at mross4@harding.edu.
