Open Table is working to connect communities through equitable access to fresh and nutritious food, with no food wasted.
Our Journey
Our journey began in 2013 with a humble little community dinner at the Brunswick Neighbourhood House. The idea of ‘meeting our neighbours’ while reducing food waste quickly caught on. We soon grew to a network of pop-up lunches at various community spaces around Melbourne.
We have since been working tirelessly to share free fresh food with our community, with the duel purpose of reducing food insecurity and food waste. Open Table also aims to lift social barriers in our communities, providing free food and a welcoming space for everyone to connect. We have discovered that food has the uncanny ability to unify us, no matter who we are or what our backgrounds may be.
Open Table is an independent and secular organisation. Our community lunches, markets and workshops seek to create an inclusive and safe space for all to join together through food. All our food is free and we strive to make our events welcoming to everyone to attend, with no eligibility or bookings required to attend our open table.
Our mission
provide consistent and reliable access to healthy food for people experiencing disadvantage
transform produce what would have otherwise gone to waste into free healthy food to share
connect diverse groups through inclusive community food projects
collaborate with volunteers and local community partners
empower others to reduce their food waste through education programs and events