TABLE, Inc. Prepares to Expand Food Assistance as Orange County Families Face Growing Costs

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT

CARRBORO, N.C. — As Orange County families face rising grocery costs and changes to federal food assistance, TABLE is preparing to expand its services to meet what the nonprofit says is growing demand.

Founded in 2008, TABLE Ministries is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides healthy food and nutrition education to children from ages 0 to 20 in Orange County.

The organization currently delivers food directly to the homes of more than 1,250 children each week and has distributed more than 4 million healthy meals and snacks since its founding.

The nonprofit’s programs include TABLE@Home, which delivers food bags to children’s homes throughout the year, and TABLE Marketplace, where families can visit TABLE’s office and select fresh produce and nonperishable foods based on their preferences and dietary needs.

Each TABLE@Home bag contains about 60% fresh produce and 40% healthy nonperishable items, providing roughly 10 meals and snacks. About 70% of fresh produce comes directly from local farms, according to TABLE.

The organization also operates Chefs@Home, a monthly nutrition education program that provides families with a recipe, ingredients and a STEM-based food activity. TABLE also holds family engagement activities and partners with local and BIPOC-owned farms.

Volunteers helping with weekly food deliveries. Image credit: TABLE Inc.

Rising food insecurity

TABLE reports a rise in food and nutrition insecurity across Orange County, which is why volunteers are needed to help sort, bag, and deliver food each week to local children. The nonprofit attributed the growing need to several factors, including the cost of housing, low wages and rising fuel and grocery prices.

The organization also expects upcoming changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to put additional pressure on families already struggling to afford basic necessities.

To illustrate the financial strain facing families, TABLE compared the budget of a typical family participating in its programs in fall 2025 with the same period in 2026.

According to TABLE’s analysis, a typical family brought in about $2,350 per month in fall 2025 while facing an average two-bedroom rental cost of $2,129 and about $804 in monthly groceries for a family of four. TABLE said that left the family with a monthly shortfall of $583.

This fall, TABLE estimates the same family’s monthly income has declined to $2,159. While average rent has fallen to about $1,750, the organization estimates grocery costs have increased to $1,430 per month, leaving the family with a $1,021 monthly shortfall.

TABLE said the comparison demonstrates how rising food costs can compound existing financial challenges for families.

Preparing for increased demand

TABLE estimates that more than 6,000 children in Orange County are currently enrolled in free or reduced-price school meal programs, and the nonprofit says the need for food assistance continues to grow.

The organization currently spends about $35 to feed one child for a week, up from $30 last year. TABLE plans to increase the number of children it serves weekly from 1,250 to 1,450 by Aug. 31.

That expansion comes as the nonprofit works to balance rising demand with the cost of providing fresh, nutritious food.

“We can’t simply grow every time demand grows; we have to grow in a way we can sustain,” said Suzanne Tormollen, Director of Marketing, in an email statement.

The organization said it is placing an increased focus on monthly giving because recurring donations provide more predictable revenue, allowing TABLE to plan for future growth rather than responding month to month to changing costs and demand.

Funding challenges

TABLE does not receive federal funding and is primarily supported through individual donations, foundations and grants.

The organization said it has experienced a decrease in private grant funding. While TABLE has not experienced a direct loss from federal funding cuts, it said those reductions have created indirect challenges for some of its partners.

One example is the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, which TABLE said lost approximately $2 million annually after the U.S. Department of Agriculture canceled the Local Food Purchase Assistance program. The program previously allowed the food bank to purchase fresh food directly from local farmers for distribution across the counties it serves.

TABLE said reduced capacity among regional food partners places additional pressure on local organizations serving families.

The nonprofit expects its fundraising needs to increase as SNAP becomes more difficult for some families to access and maintain.

TABLE said Orange County is expected to lose close to $680,000 in federal funding next year and anticipates that more families could turn to community organizations for assistance.

Because TABLE does not receive federal funding, the organization said its ability to respond to increased demand depends on individual donors, foundations and grants.

Community response

Tormollen added that in order for TABLE to meet the projected increase in demand, it will require additional funding, volunteers and partnerships.

At $35 per child per week, expanding service from 1,250 to 1,450 children would create a continuing need for additional funding for food. The organization also wants to expand its base of monthly donors and develop additional partnerships with local farms.

TABLE is also exploring ways for local nonprofits to work together to help families navigate programs such as SNAP.

Community members can support TABLE through financial contributions, volunteering at TABLE or one of its partner farms, or attending the organization’s 14th annual Empty Bowls fundraiser.

The fundraiser is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 4, from 3 to 6 p.m. at Carrboro Town Commons. TABLE said donations made between Oct. 1 and Oct. 4 will receive a 3-to-1 match from participating donors.

As the organization prepares to serve more children, TABLE said its goal is to grow alongside the needs of Orange County families while maintaining sustainable operations.

“Our plan is to keep growing to meet the need — from 1,250 to 1,450 children fed weekly by August 31st — with the support of our community offering to volunteer, provide financial support, and grow our local partners,” Tormollen said.

For more information on the fundraiser and where to donate, visit https://tablenc.org/.

Tyria McCray-Bourda is a story-driven journalist whose work has previously appeared in The Carolinian newspaper in Raleigh. Attaining a bachelor’s degree in communication from Southern New Hampshire University, she has the distinction of having interviewed President Joe Biden when he was a candidate on the campaign trail, as well as Vice President Kamala Harris. This reporter can be reached at: Information@TheLocalReporter.press

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