In a time when more and more people are struggling to make ends meet, Sylva’s Community Table serves as a beacon of resilience, community and hope.
For over 20 years, the Sylva Community Table has been providing food for anyone who needs it in the Sylva community. The Community Table is located at 23 Central Street next to Sylva Pool and across from Poteet Park. The nonprofit’s services include dinner every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and a food pantry that is open the same days from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The food pantry has fresh produce every other Tuesday and bread on Monday and Thursday.
The Community Table primarily uses volunteer work and only has three employees including Paige Christie, executive director, and Gary Wood, kitchen manager and volunteer coordinator.
“We love our volunteers. We couldn’t do anything without them,” Christie said.
According to Christie, the need for the Community Table’s services has gone up in recent years. Shortly after she joined the organization, the Covid-19 outbreak hit and the whole community was left reeling. Then, when they were finally able to start to get back on their feet, Hurricane Helene hit.
“Even though Jackson County wasn’t hit as hard as other counties, as far as physical damage and loss of homes, there were people who lost everything,” Christie said.
According to Christie, on top of the struggles with COVID-19 and Hurricane Helene, the recent federal cuts have also heavily affected the community in Sylva. People are coming into the Community Table who never would have come in before because they don’t have any other choice.
Christie wants people to know that there are no requirements for coming to the Community Table as their patrons come from all different walks of life.
“Sometimes things get better and sometimes things get worse. But we’re here, you know. There are folks who come in and need us once in 10 years. There are folks who may need us once every two years. There are folks who need us every day, and we’re here for all of it. Ideally, we’re not needed,” Christie said. “The truth is, unless there’s some major societal changes we’re always going to be needed on some level. I’d like for us to be needed less. Currently that is not the trend.”
Patrons of the Community Table include WCU students and professors, families, people working one or more jobs and older individuals simply coming for the sense of community provided by the organization.
“Just because you’re working doing all the things you’re quote ‘supposed to do’ doesn’t mean you don’t need help from time to time. Doesn’t mean you couldn’t be in a slightly better position if you took advantage of what we do,” Christie said.
There are many students struggling to balance working a part-time job and being a full-time student that still find it difficult to afford the necessities.
“We know what a struggle it is to be a student and be paying because campus doesn’t have enough housing, so everybody’s off campus with ridiculous rent. But they’re spending 70% of their money just keeping a roof over their heads,” Christie said.
One recent WCU graduate and former Community Table volunteer found himself financially stuck before he started his post-graduation job. Without an income, this graduate did not know how he was going to be able to get his next meal. When he approached Christie, she responded with no hesitation that obviously the Community Table would feed him.
“The hardest part is letting people realize. Yes, we are for you,” Christie said. “Again, there’s no judgement. We don’t care why you’re here. We don’t care what brought you here. We care that you’ve been brave enough to walk through the door and ask for help.”
The Community Table annually participates in the global fundraiser Empty Bowl. The fundraiser supports food-related charities around the world and has raised millions of dollars to help end hunger, according to the Empty Bowl website. The 2025 Empty Bowl fundraiser was held on April 11.
This year, the Community Table’s fundraiser featured 11 different homemade soups made by Wood, desserts, a raffle and a silent auction. Attendees also got to take home a unique piece of handmade pottery.
“Come in the door. We’re going to feed you. We’re going to take care of you,” Christie said. “It’s what we do.”
