the why...

...it all started on a post-covid road trip to Tennessee. The Joseph crew, 6 at the time 😉, were desperately trying to land on where to feed our rumbling bellies amongst the rolling hills and speeding tires, when finally a food exit appeared with only one option..

...  it simply read,  "OPEN TABLE. "

It was decided that no matter the menu, it was the place for us. So, we curved our speeding tires around the exit ramp... and down a few roads... and around the corner.. and up a hill.. until we reached a small sleepy mountain town that reminded us ever so slightly of our own. 

We eagerly bounced across the parking lot, excited at the opportunity to fill our bellies.. and to stretch a little! Noticing some differences between the OPEN TABLE and traditional restraunts here and there along the way. For starters, it appeared to be in a social hall of some type. Interesting.  

We grabbed a few menus and quickly realized that, similarly to the food exit sign from the highway, there was ONLY ONE MEAL on the menu! Weird. 

With some of us understanding and piecing the clues together before other's, a kind hearted woman excited the building to assist us... allowing sounds of warm laughter&conversing escape out and fill the space around her. 💗She explained to us that OPEN TABLE was a daily meal that she prepared for her local community.  It had begun after covid she said, due to many of their elderly community members now living alone in many instances.  She had noticed that many of their town residents had become accustomed to eating alone, some of the older men in particular.  Some wouldn't eat for days since their wives' passing, for a slew of reasons, ranging from shear loneliness to lack of needed cooking skills.  Saddening. 

 She said she felt something had to be done. Therefore, she started small with making a meal and inviting all to join. Slowly, it gained popularity and she started making a meal each morning, using whatever supplies she could buy cheap and in bullk, serving until it ran out.

 It continued to grow, and the more people came, the more she found the others that saw the need and jumped in to fill it in any way they could to contribute... donating, cooking, cleaning, and attending to help spread the love. Thanks to those others, the meal was able to be offered FREE OF CHARGE, always, with suggested donation amounts given next to menu items for those carloads of hungry travelers like ourselves wanting to do our part.  

As we returned to our family road trip, the conversing was captivated by what we had just discovered and then, the question was asked... "hey ma, why can't we do something like that at home?" .... and our very own Ohiopyle's OPEN TABLE Sunday Dinner was born.  🍽❤️

I would like to take a moment to say, THANK YOU,  to all who have participated through the years, and there are many of you!!  Your support of our Community is greatly appreciated, and thank you for helping spread the dream. TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAMWORK.

 I have to give a special shout out to those who have been our "others" alongside us- helping to cook, clean, & plan for these amazing community dinners. The Joseph crew is so grateful for community family like you.

SOOOooo, please join us ...

 because there is always room for one more at Sunday dinner!  -Xoxo 😘

The OSVFD "Swappin' Giveaway!"  

- Winter Gear Edition 🧥🧣🧤

I am over the moon excited about the potential these MONTHLY community gatherings could have for us all!!

 Just think about it...

I have stuff sitting in my closet, you have stuff sitting in your closet, BAMM!! A SWAPPIN' GIVEAWAY ✨️💥💫, then we all have new stuff that we will actually use... & TONS TO SPARE! ☺️.  

Seriously though, life is tough and this is an easy way that we can all help one another along the way.  I personally know that the Joseph Crew wouldn't have made it through some of our pretty tough years without a Giveaway or two! 😉

Please stay tuned to our Ohiopyle31 AUXILIARY Facebook page, or check our calendar for 2024 OSVFD Giveaway Days.  

❤️ - THANK YOU.