Our Strategy: The Stable Table
Our Neighbors’ Table’s goal is to create, to create, measure and sustain universal food access across the Lower Merrimack Valley.
Using our pioneering STABLE TABLE model, ONT takes a comprehensive approach to mobilize and harness a community’s goal of universal food access to breakdown stigma and cultural barriers, build strong, sustainable networks of free food, and maximize use of and availability of public programs like SNAP that support nutrition at all ages.
Using this strategy, ONT declared Amesbury the first food secure city in the nation in 2018, a finding backed by data and surveys that showed every resident had consistent, reliable access to the healthy food they need.
Many of ONT’s training and referral practices have been replicated across school districts and municipalities. Using our proven strategies, we will build universal food access for every neighbor in the Lower Merrimack Valley by 2029.
Using our pioneering STABLE TABLE model, ONT takes a comprehensive approach to mobilize and harness a community’s goal of universal food access to breakdown stigma and cultural barriers, build strong, sustainable networks of free food, and maximize use of and availability of public programs like SNAP that support nutrition at all ages.
Using this strategy, ONT declared Amesbury the first food secure city in the nation in 2018, a finding backed by data and surveys that showed every resident had consistent, reliable access to the healthy food they need.
Many of ONT’s training and referral practices have been replicated across school districts and municipalities. Using our proven strategies, we will build universal food access for every neighbor in the Lower Merrimack Valley by 2029.
A Stable Table for Salisbury
When a Salisbury mother and her baby came to ONT's Community Meal feeling desperate and in need of help to feed her family, she was treated with dignity and surrounded with services from ONT and our partners.
By expanding access to healthy food, growing community support and working with partner agencies, the use of services by Salisbury residents exceeded the estimated need in 2024. |
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Key Principles
- Food distribution methods must reflect population-specific needs of those who are food insecure
- Food distributed must provide adequate, quality nutrition and reflect population-specific needs of those who are food insecure
- Food is universally available without need to "qualify" or meet other criteria
- Food access must be flexible and responsive to various situations that may cause a person to be food insecure (emergencies, long-term, etc.)
- Food distribution vehicles are interconnected allowing consumers to choose and utilize the channels that are most suited to their needs or life circumstances.
- Community has prioritized resources (money, space, people) to ensure food distribution channels are sustained for as long as needed.