Biography of Shepherd Table's Clients and Volunteer

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Eddie, a beautiful soul with an amazing heart, is a former client and dinner guest of Shepherd’s Table. He now works part time and has housing, though the housing is somewhat precarious. Eddie accessed services at Shepherd's Table for over five years. Eddie’s long history of mental illness has in no way diminished his passion for life and his dedication to being kind and generous to everyone he encounters. Though there are certainly days when he struggles and the darkness becomes a heavy burden, Eddie remains a constant loving presence at Shepherd's Table. He has received services through our resource center, accessed medical care, received clothing and been provided a nutritious meal during his many years with us. Eddie’s innate ability to offer compassion and understanding and to be present in a meaningful way gifted all of us at Shepherd's Table. Eddie’s success is the result of a strong determination on his part, effective services at Shepherd's Table and other supportive programs and the deep caring of volunteers, donors and staff!

Mark is a former photographer, and a current client and dinner guest of Shepherd's Table. Mark’s knowledge and love of photography became known to us as he shared his story with two different students of documentaries and our holiday card photographer. Mark has been coming to Shepherd's Table as long as anyone here can remember. This is home to Mark. The story of how he came to be here and the reasons he stays remain somewhat of a mystery. Mark is simply chronically homeless. Volunteers and staff find Mark to be always willing to assist with things around the Table. He is generous with his time and his knowledge. We hope that one day Mark will accept housing and be able to return to some of the things in his life that gave him great joy, including photography.

Kim’s story is one of service to Shepherd's Table. She has been coming for many years with her church, Oakdale Emory United Methodist. They are here the third Tuesday of each month. Kim’s infectious smile and great joy are a blessing to everyone she encounters at Shepherd's Table. Her great caring for everyone she serves is clearly manifested in her facial expressions, her words of caring and her ability to enter into meaningful conversations. Kim, along with her husband Jim, not only come on their regular serving night but also bring items from our wish list. They also gather family and friends to purchase prepare and serve special dinners at Shepherd's Table. Kim and Jim’s dedication to the mission of Shepherd's Table, and to service, mirror the dedication and service of hundreds of other volunteers who come throughout the year.

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Shepherd's Table 990 form-2010

Shepherd's Table Audit-2010

History

The myth that hunger did not exist in affluent Silver Spring was debunked on December 16, 1983 with the opening of Shepherd’s Table. Even in Montgomery County, one of the wealthiest counties in the nation, homelessness and hunger need to be addressed. Silver Spring HELP, an all-volunteer, nonprofit, grassroots organization for the homeless, initiated a solution to the problem.

Shepherd’s Table began as a soup kitchen in a small Cape Cod bungalow behind First Baptist Church of Silver Spring. This was made possible through the joint effort of 33 local religious congregations. Community opposition was met by vocal supporters who pointed out that ignoring homelessness and hunger did not make them disappear. Over time, citizen support grew to include donations of time, meals and kitchen equipment. Health, nutrition, and security professionals educated the volunteers, and physicians, nurses, and mental health counselors provided their services.

The first volunteers to serve at Shepherd’s Table were congregants from St. Luke’s Lutheran Church who fed seven guests. By June 1984, the program averaged 1,500 dinner guests a month. Within a year, services expanded to include distribution of free clothing, laundry and shower facilities, a medical clinic, social services, counseling, drug and alcohol addiction treatment, mental health therapy, referral to shelters and other professional services.

In 1985 Shepherd’s Table became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Shepherd’s Table Today: 1996 – Present
In 1996, the Montgomery County government moved Shepherd’s Table from its cramped quarters to a newly renovated multipurpose community center called Progress Place. The property was offered rent-free. Additionally, Shepherd's Table has never missed a meal since opening its doors almost 30 years ago and we are committed to making sure we never do.