Morristown Nonprofit Fed Hungry When 2 Feet Of Snow Closed Town

MORRISTOWN, NJ — As nearly 30 inches of snow pummeled Morristown, the kids enjoyed a snow day, businesses closed and many retreated into their homes to withstand the harsh nor'easter. But a small nonprofit feeding people inside a Morristown church pushed on, because not everyone has the privilege of enjoying the snow.

Table of Hope distributes hot meals to those in need, rotating between distribution sites in Morristown, Parsippany and Dover. The organization scheduled Feb. 1 for meals to-go at Bethel Church of Morristown.

New Jersey State Police responded to 661 crashes between 6 p.m. Jan. 31 and 8 p.m. Feb. 1. Morristown authorities spent much of the storm pushing disabled vehicles. ABC News even traveled to Morristown and showed the area's dichotomy: a picturesque Morristown Green to your left and a ghost town of undrivable roads to your right.

Leaving home wasn't safe, but neither is hunger. If Bethel Church and Table of Hope didn't open their doors, who would?

"If there’s a chance of a snowstorm or it starts snowing, the lines at Walmart and ShopRite go from the back of the store to the front," said Rev. Dr. Sidney S. Williams Jr., who runs Table of Hope. "Well, there’s a significant number of people who have the same need but don’t have the same resources to stock up."

Rooted In History

Morristown history is American history, and that story remains incomplete without including the roots of Bethel Church. In 1841, several families left the Presbyterian Church of Morristown to form the Bethel Mite Society. Two years later, they incorporated as the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church of Morristown.

Their first pastor, Bishop Willis Nazery, was born a slave in 1803 in Virginia. For eight years, they met in each other's homes until raising the funds necessary to build the Carpenter Gothic church on Spring Street in 1849.

Bethel became Morris County's first Black congregation and served as the county's only school for "Colored and Native American" children, according to the church's history page. They expanded their facilities on Spring Street and remained in the same facility until 1967. Their current building arose in 1970.

But Hurricane Irene devastated the church in 2011, leaving 4 feet of water in the basement. Community members removed water from the basement, remediated mold and helped them renovate and establish a commercial kitchen.

That's how Table of Hope formed, according to Williams, Bethel Church's pastor.

"We’re just kind of really paying it forward," Williams told Patch, "because if it hadn’t been for the community coming to our aid in 2011, there would be no more Bethel and there wouldn’t be a Table of Hope."

Opening No Matter What

That's why Table of Hope does whatever it takes to stay open. Since the organization began in 2013, they've never closed meal distribution because of a snowstorm, Williams says.

The pastor credits their committed volunteers. Williams can always count on them to clear snow, cook and help distribute hot meals.

They did it again Feb. 1, despite the snow beginning the evening before and falling until the day after. Thanks to the volunteers' efforts, Table of Hope fed 65 people that night from 59 Spring St.

"We just have a really dedicated group of people that, barring some natural disaster, they’re committed to making sure our doors stayed open," Williams said.

But New Jersey's harsh winter has pushed on since, with sporadic snowstorms and frigid temperatures. And the coronavirus pandemic has only increased food insecurity throughout Morris County and the nation since winters past.

Before the pandemic, food insecurity in the United States reached its lowest mark in 20 years, according to Feeding America. Even then, 35.2 million people, including 10.7 million children, faced food insecurity, according to the hunger-relief organization. Feeding America projected that more than 50 million people, including 17 million children, experienced food insecurity around the nation last year because of COVID-19.

In Morris County, 5.3 percent endured food insecurity in 2018. Feeding America projected nearly double that total — 9.5 percent — for 2020.

"Our members are reporting that many of the people they're serving have never sought food assistance before,"Kathryn Strickland, Feeding America's chief network officer, told Patch. "Some people are reporting that people who formerly donated to
food banks are now seeking assistance."

Related article: Patch Holiday Food Drive In Morris Co.: Give To Feeding America

Table of Hope sees the crisis right in front of them. About 500 people lined up in the cold Feb. 4 for food.

The organization fed them all. But seeing people line up in the cold for hot food illustrated the crisis at hand.

"That’s an indication of the need," Williams said. "It’s cold. … The demand is just insane."

Table Of Hope Needs Help Too

Despite Table of Hope's resilience, the organization faces growing challenges. During meal distributions, they try to ensure everyone has access to meat, dairy and produce. But more often lately, Table of Hope has needed to purchase the food to meet the demand.

Williams noted two ways people can help: donations and volunteerism. People can donate and volunteer online. Table of Hope could especially use volunteers with experience in maintenance and repairs, according to Williams.

Those in need of food can also register online — registration is preferred but optional.

Forecasters, as of Wednesday morning, project another 6-8 inches of snow will hit Morristown on Thursday. No matter how much snow falls, Table of Hope expects to clear the way for the hungry at Bethel Church.

"At least we’re in a building," Williams said. "We can go home to our warm homes. The least we can do is try to provide a meal and a cup of coffee to people that are in need."

This story is part of Patch's Headlining Hope series, which profiles local nonprofits and charitable organizations in need of volunteers and resources. If you know of a local organization that should be profiled, contact josh.bakan@patch.com.

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