E-News May 2025

The Foods of Senegal at The Table - May 9

The Table is excited to announce its next Cultural Celebrations Project, highlighting the vibrancy and culture of Senegal. This special meal is funded by the Perth & District Community Foundation and delivered with the help of cultural ambassadors, volunteers and staff. Join us at The Table on Friday May 9th between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm for this community meal celebration!

For any additional questions, contact Stephanie at: stephanie@thetablecfc.org

Mothers Day Brunch at The Table

The Table is hosting Mother's Day Brunch on Sunday, May 11th!

Reserve your table and join us for a celebration of moms, complete with a smorgasbord of brunch classics prepared by Chef Joanne Edwards. The meal will be by donation and seatings are by reservation at either 10:00 am or 12:30 pm.

For more information and to reserve your seats, call Stephanie at 613 267 6428 ext. 104

Joanna's Community Garden Update

It’s been a slow and chilly start to the season, but signs of life are all around us! The garlic is up, and we’re starting to see radishes and lettuce emerging at both garden sites. Meanwhile, our seedlings are thriving under grow lights, gradually getting ready for their time in the soil.

As our plants grow, so does our community. We’re continuing with transplanting and are excited to welcome new volunteers who are joining us as interest in the garden program blossoms.

This spring, we’re highlighting the role of Phenology in gardening. Phenology is the study of seasonal changes in plants and animals—such as when trees leaf out, flowers bloom, or birds migrate—and how these natural events relate to climate and weather patterns. In the vegetable garden, observing phenological cues can help us time our plantings more effectively. For example, sowing seeds when certain native plants bloom can be a more reliable planting indicator than the calendar alone, especially in an unpredictable spring.

Please refer to this chart to guide your planting this season, using both the timing recommendations and phenological indicators to support a successful and abundant garden. We’re grateful for your continued support and energy—happy planting!

Composting with Worms Workshop

Join us for an interactive session with the Garden Coordinator, Joanna Kowalczyk and a local Organic Producer, Maureen Bostock, for a conversation about using worms in your outdoor composter. We will be setting up The Table's backyard compost bins with worms to help speed up the break down of the kitchen waste we produce at our 190 Gore location. 

Join us at The Table (190 Gore Street East in Perth) on Saturday, May 24th at 10:00 am. Register at: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/composting-with-worms-tickets-1353363640079?aff=oddtdtcreator 

Our Board of Directors is Recruiting

The Table is seeking 3 new members to serve as Directors on its dynamic governance Board. Our 12 member Board of Directors ensures good governance and uses a consensus model of decision-making. The initial term of office is for 3 years. We strive to recruit a Board that reflects the diversity of peoples in the community and we value learning from the knowledge and lived experiences of members.

Learn more by visiting The Table's website.

The deadline to apply is Friday, May 9, 2025. If you have any questions about The Table or the Board please feel free to email: boardchair@thetablecfc.org or call Curtis Cook, Executive Director 613-267-6428 X 108.

The Buzz - May 21st

Join in for another edition of "The Buzz" where participants come together to enjoy coffee, snacks and community company while leaning into their creative side!

In this edition of the Buzz, participants will be digging into the craft supplies and getting everyone's creative juices flowing! We are revisiting some of the buzz's fan favourite crafts, so it is bound to be a good one!

All supplies provided, everyone is welcome! See on Wednesday May 21st from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm in The Table dining room.

Youth Summer Employment Opportunity

The Table is looking to fill two positions through the Government of Canada's Summer Jobs program. The positions are Community Kitchen Helper and Community Services Assistant, the latter of which will work primarily in the Good Food Bank.

These positions are open to candidates who meet the Canada Summer jobs criteria:

• between 15 and 30 years or age at the start of the employment;

• be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act;

• possess a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN); and

• be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial regulations.

The successful candidates will employed by The Table for 8 weeks and must be available for 35 hours weekly. The salary is $19/hour.

To apply for a position, please send an email with attached cover letter and resume in a single file (PDF or MS-Word format to curtis@thetablecfc.org

Perth and District Community Foundation - Open House on May 15th

Come learn more about the PDCF, your local community foundation dedicated to strengthening the quality of life in Perth, Drummond/North Elmsley, Lanark Highlands, and Tay Valley so that everyone belongs and thrives, today and into the future.

All are welcome at the new PDCF office in the basement of the McMillan Building (77 Gore St E, Perth, ON) on Thursday, May 15th from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. Meet PDCF's Board and Executive Director, enjoy light refreshments, and get your questions answered. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 5:30pm.

The State of Food Insecurity in Canada

Did you know that there is no federal government department mandated to improve food security in Canada? It’s the same story at the provincial level. Research is conducted, data is collected and analyses are made; however, concrete and continuous action to address food insecurity is missing. This is worrisome in light of Statistics Canada’s recently released Canadian Income Survey, 2023 (released on May 1st 2025). The statistics are alarming.

According to the report, 10 million Canadians (1 in 4 individuals) experienced household food insecurity in the past year. This was an increase of almost 1.3 million people from the previous year and marked the third consecutive annual increase. The proportion of people who were marginally food insecure (6.4%) remained relatively stable, while the proportions of those who were moderately (12.4%) and severely (6.7%) food insecure increased. Nearly half (47.8%) of people in one-parent families lived in food-insecure households in 2023. Unattached non-seniors (31.7%) were also at a higher risk of food insecurity.

The report also shows an increase in poverty, with 4 million Canadians, or 1 in 10 individuals, living below the official poverty line in 2023. This is a 5% increase year over year. It's important to note that these figures likely don't fully capture the extent of the challenges millions of Canadians are facing, as the data is already two years old and the official poverty measure is considered by many to be too low.

This is one of those “I have good news and bad news, what would you like first” stories. Let’s start with the bad news: the report paints a bleak picture and we see firsthand that Perth, Smiths Falls and Lanark County are not immune to the social and economic pressures contributing to food insecurity across the country. Smiths Falls Town Council has declared food insecurity an emergency. More of our friends and neighbours, including long-time residents and newly arrived families are participating in The Table’s food access programs.

The good news? We have a generous community that supports The Table as it brings people together in a welcoming and safe space, nurturing community through the power of good food. The gratitude we feel toward the businesses, individuals and institutions that donate to The Table cannot be overstated. The need is greater than ever and the positive impact of these contributions extend beyond The Table into the community. Equally important, we could not do what we do without the dedicated volunteers and the many hours they contribute in the kitchen, the Good Food Bank, the community garden, or with special events or after school programs.

Statistics Canada’s latest report is a wake-up call to elected officials. The topic of food insecurity received considerable attention in Question Period in the lead-up to the recent election. It is now our opportunity to remind our representatives on Parliament Hill and the Legislative Assembly to walk the walk if they are going to talk the talk. Food insecurity requires action, not just monitoring. The Table’s staff, Board of Directors, and amazing volunteers take it seriously. Our generous donors and community partners take it seriously, and now we need governments at all levels to take food insecurity seriously.