Hanscom AFB is first stop for Open Table’s mobile market

Bedford, MA – The recent government shutdown may have put a strain on local military families but it gave Open Table the opportunity to debut their new refrigerated truck, stocking it and bringing the pantry to the people at Hanscom Air Force Base.

For more than three hours in the middle of a Saturday in early February, 56 households were able to shop for fresh, frozen and shelf stable grocery items.

From milk, eggs and yogurt to ground beef, chicken, cantaloupes and clementines, the choices were tantalizing enough to make one recipient say, “This is like shopping at a farmer’s market!”

Having access to the mobile market was critical to a community that would otherwise find it difficult to get to Open Table’s Maynard pantry, due to lack of transportation, time, or childcare needs.

But there was more than food: there were diapers, toiletries and paper products donated by community partners including Concord Recreation and the Beede Center, the Concord Rotary, First Parish Church of Lincoln and the Church of the Good Shepherd in Acton. Children were able to take home kids’ bags, cheerfully decorated and full of snacks and Beanie Babies.

Families were also treated to sandwich wraps, chips and juice to lunch on while they shopped, prepared ahead of time by Open Table volunteers.

The event was a successful collaboration between Open Table and Hanscom staff, who volunteered with the Open Table team and offered up their middle school cafeteria for the day. It’s an event that Open Table hopes to repeat, now that they have shown what their mobile market can do.

“Our truck became an official part of the force when we passed the military gates,” said Glenn Migliozzi, co-chairperson for Open Table. “I can’t wait to come back again.”

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