Table Grace Café continues to serve community during pandemic through outreach events

Juli Oberlander • September 27, 2021

Table Grace Café continues to serve community during pandemic through outreach events

Photos courtesy of Simone Weber

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Table Grace Café has risen to the challenge by ensuring customer safety and holding outreach events to help people gain access to healthy meals.

Founded in 2008 by Simone and Matt Weber, Table Grace Ministries' mission is to foster a healthy community through food, music and fellowship. Since its inception, the nonprofit has expanded to include Table Grace Café, Mobile Grace Food Truck, music outreach, catering and job experience programs as part of how the team is “Nourishing Hungry Bodies and Souls."

During that time, Table Grace Café has become one of Omaha’s premier donation-based cafés. Simone Weber says the team is committed to ensuring the safety and health of the community, especially in light of COVID-19.

"Table Grace continues to adapt as needed to serve the community during the pandemic," Weber says. "To begin with, we went to takeout only, and then dine in at limited capacity plus takeout. The dining room was equipped with extra plexiglass dividers so that in addition to masks, people would have another level of distance as they were ordering."

Along with introducing these safety measures, Weber says Table Grace expanded its Mobile Grace Food Truck endeavors to include many outreach-based events serving children and families in need throughout the Omaha area. These events have taken place at locations such as Boys and Girls Clubs, Kids Can, Habitat Restore and Abide Omaha.

Throughout the pandemic, Weber says Table Grace has continued to open its doors to the variety of patrons it serves, including attorneys, working poor, executives and the homeless.

She says everyone is welcome at Table Grace Café.

"Everyone is given the opportunity to access a healthy meal, fellowship among people who become like family, and an invitation to give of themselves whether that is through their time, talent or resources," Weber says.

In addition, Table Grace continues to provide volunteer opportunities and various programs to help people reach their goals, such as a 10-day job experience program that assists people in re-entering the workforce. Weber says many of the people working for Table Grace started out as participants in these programs.

"A majority of the staff who carry out the operations of the food truck, café and catering operations are people who have come up through the ranks at Table Grace, either originally entering our doors as a homeless patron, 10-day job experience participant or court-appointed volunteer," Weber says. "Table Grace also assists trainees in finding work in mainstream restaurants by assisting with resumes and job leads whenever possible."

Between its regular programs and the outreach events, Weber says many customers have shared their appreciation for Table Grace's service to the community.

"Some of our regular patrons have expressed how grateful they are that Table Grace continues to serve meals and provide a place for healthy fellowship even in the midst of the pandemic," she says.

Table Grace Café is open for lunch Monday through Saturday at 1611 1/2 Farnam Street, serving dine in and takeout. To learn more, visit their website.

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