Volunteer Spirit Contagious at the Banquet Table

FRANKLIN - When Pat Cable decided to give back to her community she took her commitment seriously and encouraged others to follow her lead.

After pursuing a culinary technology degree at Southwestern Community College, Cable decided her day job teaching nutrition education to low-income families at the Macon County Cooperative Extension was not enough. So, she began spending her evenings working for the Banquet Table project.

Some of the volunteers at the Banquet Table include, from left, Steven Cable, Joyce Phillips, Katherine Davis, Pat Cable, Robert Jacaban, Linda Jackson and Billy Jackson.

The project was born three years ago by a group of volunteers who wanted to provide an evening meal to anyone who wanted one. Their vision included preparing and serving an evening meal in the St. Agnes Catholic Church fellowship hall. The project would be supported by monetary and in-kind donations from local businesses and organizations.

Three years later, that vision is a reality. Now, on Monday and Thursday evenings there is a line of people eager to enjoy a meal spilling out of St. Agnes' fellowship hall, and inside there is laughter, conversation and a lot of hard work taking place.

Each week, Cable plans the meals, schedules volunteers, solicits businesses and organizations for donations, shops for the food at the local Manna Food Bank and oversees the effort on Mondays and Thursdays.

"I just want to give something back to my community," said Cable. "My daughter inspired me. When she was just 13 years old she encouraged me to attend meetings with her to find out more about the Banquet Table. I get great enjoyment from this place. To make just one person smile - well, there's some wonderful satisfaction in that."

Judging from her pool of volunteers, her spirit is contagious. Not only does she have individuals volunteer, but also, groups like the Macon County New Century Scholars are pitching in help.

"I love these volunteers. They're like family, and you can never have too much family."

For more information about volunteering or donating to the Banquet Table, call Cable at (828) 349-3744. For more information about Southwestern's culinary technology program, call Ceretta Davis, program coordinator of culinary technology, at (800) 447-4091 or (828) 339-4256.

Back to News Index