MEDIA RELEASE 28 MAY 2013 — Open Table
Open Table is a shared initiative from five RMIT University students and alumni contributing skills and knowledge from Social Work, Landscape Architecture, Industrial Design, Sustainability, and Economics. Since early 2013 the project has gathered a larger group of volunteers passionate about contributing time and skills to Open Table.
What we are
Open Table is a not-for-profit food redistribution and community connectedness project. We hold monthly Sunday dinners at the Brunswick Neighbourhood house, using excess food that would otherwise go to waste. The dinners are inclusive, accessible and free.
This project addresses the need for greater community connectedness and participation, as well as providing for the material needs of more disadvantaged members of the community. We seek to bring together disparate groups within Brunswick to greater links and understanding.
What we do
Open Table has just finished a six week pilot, and on Sunday 2 June we will launch our first in permanent series of monthly dinner parties. On the first Sunday of every month at the Brunswick Neighbourhood House, De Carle St, we welcome friends, families, neighbours and anyone up for a free sunday feast.
Over the last six weeks, we have made friends with our neighbours in supported living and community housing in Brunswick, and extend special welcome to people often excluded in local activities.
Vision
We want to get to know our neighbours. We want our neighbours to get to know their neighbours. We created a fun, sustainable and inclusive environment to get this happening. Implicit in this project are values of social justice and food security.
Sustainability + Food Waste
Australians discard $8 billion of edible food every year in our homes, this is roughly 350kg of food per year in the bin (Source: NSW EPA, 2012). Sadly, this does not even take into account edible food wasted in production, distribution and point of sale. Food that goes to landfill doesn’t biodegrade like it does in your compost - as it rots it releases methane and other greenhouse gases.
Open Table is one independent organisation engaging global problems with local solutions.
Relationships
Open Table is based on collaboration within: our working group, the Brunswick community, local businesses and supporting organisations. Through the generosity of the Brunswick Neighbourhood house we have a permanent home for our monthly dinners. With support and guidance from Moreland City Council we are able to use the community kitchen to cook delicious vegetarian meals.
We have had many offers of support from local businesses we would like to thank them for their support and generosity. We look forward to developing methods for redistribution of excess food in partnership with businesses in Brunswick.
Personal Stories
Brunswick florist collaborating with 2 regulars from local community housing. Joe and Gavin are some of our most enthusiastic regulars who arrive a first every week. They have a strong sense of community and always give a hand setting the tables, and getting ready for the main crowd. They came up with the idea of putting vases of flowers on the table and took it as a serious responsibility when a local florist donated their (otherwise wasted) end of week flowers. Open Table has helped assist a local business dispose of their waste and given a budding florist and interior designer a chance to showcase their skills.
For more info, media inquiries & interviews contact:
Georgia Charlotte Bloxham Hutchison
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