Tuesday, August 25, 2015

We Need Your Help!

THE TABLE is a community kitchen with a heart to serve the South Side. No ID or check-in are required. Just come as you are.  THE TABLE serves a free, hot meal from 5:30 to 6:30pm every Tuesday and Thursday. Everyone is welcome.
At THE TABLE, meals are provided by various volunteer groups and churches from the Pittsburgh area and are served at the Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community (HMBFC).
For those living on the margins, and those who struggle with poverty, it isn't the lack of money that is the most difficult. It's the lack of community. 

In the last three years, Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community (HMBFC) has been able to support a "Table Minister;" someone who not only takes care of the logistics of feeding over 200 people each week, but also creates relationships, develops trust, and is considered the pastor at the "church" that is called The Table.  Jenn Frayer-Griggs has taken on this challenge because she loves these folks, and she loves feeding people. And sometimes following the call of Jesus is as simple as that.

Unfortunately, due to financial struggles, HMBFC will no longer be able to fund the position, and the future of our feeding ministry is uncertain. So of course, now it the time to think about expanding! 

Can you help us keep THE TABLE going? Can you help expand the ministry?

  • The Table needs approximately $5000 to cover supplies and the occasional meal when we are unable to get outside groups to bring food in. 
  • In addition, $6,000 would fund one year of a Specialized Intern. 
  • $39,000 would fund the minimum salary and benefits of an ordained pastor of the PC(USA). 
Yes. I know this is crazy. But so was feeding 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish. 
I think Jesus might have a hand in this feeding too...

Can you help get us half way there? All the way there? Further?  There's always more work that can be done! 

What would happen if there were Tables going all over the city, offering folks a warm meal, some community, a place to call their own? 
It'd be crazy. The Jesusy kind of crazy.
  • About a year and a half ago  a new Table Ministry in the Brookline Neighborhood was created, and it's still going strong.
  • In June, we helped start a meal ministry to the folks in Bellevue. We serve approximately 75 folks there every Monday night.
  • We have plans to expand to at least one more location in 2015!

www.tinyurl.com/thetableministry
you can even sign up to support our program through a sustainer plan - you'll be doing good and you won't even know it!
Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community is a 501c3 nonprofit, so you'll even be able to claim this on your taxes! yay!

Can't offer money?  No problem!  Your help is still needed!
Consider praying for THE TABLE!
Think about volunteering some night!
Spread the word! Share the link! Talk it up! Come share a meal!

We'll be posting updates after every $500 we raise, so stay tuned and join in on the fun.