Come to the Table

Hunger can often be a quiet problem, but Harding’s service group, The Table, aims to do its part in loving neighbors through this struggle. The Table is one of the University’s newest ministries, having officially launched in Fall 2024. 

During his junior year, Tucker Lovell (’24) spearheaded the efforts to start this ministry. He approached President Mike Williams with a desire to serve the community through food drives. Lovell had a history of this work in high school and had a passion to continue it in his college career. He was connected with Dr. Andrea Morris, assistant provost of curricular and community engagement, and together they began discussing how to best address this need in the Harding community.

In Nov. 2022, they conducted a survey in chapel to gauge food insecurity levels on campus. They found that 36% of students went without food anywhere from two to 16 times per month. This result might seem shocking coming from students at a private university, but Dr. Morris began hearing more and more that many students were still struggling from the economic shift during the COVID-19 pandemic. These students didn’t have money for anything more than tuition, if that. With the need now evident, development of the service group continued with vigor.

The Table gained its name, and in Feb. 2023, the state of Arkansas provided a $5,000 grant for its establishment.

By Fall 2023, The Table had its soft launch on campus, followed a year later by its formal launch.

The Table is a food resource center and functions similarly to a mini-mart. The team focuses on providing proteins, grains, fruits, international foods, breakfast items and personal care items. They have just expanded into offering refrigerated items as well. They also teach cooking classes so users know the best ways to utilize the groceries they select. 

For new shoppers hoping to use this service, an online form, including a Harding ID number, must be completed. Names are not kept, as confidentiality and dignity are key components for this ministry. The Table is open on Monday through Thursday from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Though The Table is young as a ministry, its impact across campus has been tremendous already. Beyond the physical needs provided for its users, it also generates a spirit around service across campus. It shows the responsibility that children of God have to be in service to others.

Dr. Morris says of this responsibility, “It is humbling to serve our students in this way. It is humbling that God would allow us to be his hands and his feet in this way… It is reaching our arms around one another. It is a connection and extension of Matthew 25:40: ‘Whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did it for me’.”

The Table also allows the Harding family to point outwards in service to the broader community. One of these opportunities is currently underway in the form of a resource drive. Originally designed to be a holiday food drive for The Table, it has now broadened into the Harding Cares initiative. The University is in partnership with the city of Searcy to provide for people in need on and off campus. Arkansas currently ranks 50th in the country for food insecurity. This drive hopes to mitigate this issue in Searcy and also assist the community by providing personal care and baby items as well.

In just a few days, more than 500 food and personal items have been donated to the community, with more items coming in daily. Donations will continue to be collected through Nov. 21, but The Table and its partners in this drive expect its impact to last well into December.

For more information and ways to give, visit https://linktr.ee/HardingCares.