To the Editor:

One Table Café is a “Community Supported Restaurant” welcoming people from widely diverse backgrounds to share an evening of wonderful food, friends, goodwill, and entertainment — all thanks to a host of restaurants and businesses in and around Princeton.

Located at Trinity Church, 33 Mercer Street, in Princeton, One Table Café is now half way through its third year in operation. Seven months a year, on the third Friday, Trinity volunteers spruce up Pierce Hall and it fills with 100-150 diners who take part in a transforming experience sharing a nutritiously and professionally prepared meal — sourced locally — with people from all walks of life in the community, most of whom meet here for the first time. And the cost? Only what you can afford to pay. If you would like a fine night out in a restaurant environment with quality food, you are welcome. If money is an obstacle, you are welcome. If you have the means and can donate a little extra, you will help offset the cost of a meal for someone else.

The idea was conceived not long after the Rev. Paul Jeanes III was installed as the new Rector at Trinity. His challenge was “trying to find a way to have Trinity reach out to those around us. It’s not about getting people to become members of Trinity Church, but rather creating a stronger community of care and connection. We have neighbors we don’t know. We need to know our neighbors and we need to be a better neighbor.” With that as the message, a team of outreach-focused volunteers planned and strategized for eight months and finally, in January 2011, One Table Café had its debut. The key to its success, in addition to the very loyal diners and volunteers, is the profound generosity of the restaurant sponsors each month who donate menu planning, food, preparation, and their time on site in “Alice’s Kitchen” the night of the dinner — cutting, chopping, tossing, plating, trimming herbs — until all are served and after-dessert coffee is on the table.

All proceeds are donated to one of the following organizations, chosen by the sponsoring restaurant: The Crisis Ministry of Princeton and Trenton, Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, Urban Promise of Trenton, Trenton Children’s Choir, Housing Initiatives of Princeton, Global Aids Interfaith Alliance (Malawi) and the Cristosol Foundation (El Salvador).

Come join us for the September 20 dinner!

Sincere thanks for their generous community spirit to: Mediterra; Enoterra; Teresa’s Caffe; Terra Momo Bread Company; Witherspoon Grill; Blue Pointe Grill; Nassau Street Seafood and Produce Co.; Princeton Farmers’ Market; Salt Creek Grille; Emily’s Café and Catering; Mr. Carl DeFazio; D’Angelo Italian Market; Piccolo Trattoria; Hashim at The Orchard Café; Small World Coffee; Craft Cleaners and Mayflower Cleaners.

Diane Somers

Co-founder, One Table Café