NEWTON, MA — Despite Newton's reputation as a wealthy community, there's food insecurity in town. And not a little of it. The Newton Food Pantry serves some 750 residents every month, and that number rises every year, according to the volunteers who work there. More than one-third are children. Many are elderly. Last year, the pantry distributed more than 16,000 bags of groceries and personal-care products—a 48 percent increase in just two years.
The nonprofit, which has been run by volunteers since it started in 1983, receives no direct funding from the City of Newton, the state of Massachusetts, or the federal government, but mostly relies on individual and company donations.
So in 2015 the folks behind the Newton Food Pantry got an idea, inspired by Top Chef! They created a dinner featuring the area's top chefs a way to engage the local business community and raise funds for the pantry through ticket sales.
Now in its third year, the "Newton's Community Table" includes dinner from the city's area chefs, a silent auction and live music. In 2015 and 2017 the event sold out within 10 days of the ticket going on sale and had a wait lists. The event takes place every other October. The third year of the event is set to take place Oct. 17 and tickets are still on sale, according to organizers.
The pantry now depends on the event to generate around 50 percent of the organization's annual operating budget.
"This has event been so important in gaining exposure to the Newton business community by allowing us to speak with business owners and educating them about the food insecurity that exists in Newton and the need for the Newton Food Pantry," said Vice President of the Newton Food Pantry Committee Regina Wu in a statement.
Wu leads the effort to organize the planning committee that include a group of friends in Waban who had worked together organizing the Angier Elementary School fundraisers along with a core group of volunteers.
The pantry sold 250 tickets and raised $25,000 the first year and raised $40,000 the second year.
There are still several tickets left for the Oct. 17 event, according to organizers, you can find out more at foodfornewton.com
Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).
