By Anne Levin

Back in 2011, the clergy and congregation of Trinity Church on Mercer Street were looking to address the problem of hunger in the community. But they wanted to approach the issue in an innovative way, different from programs that already existed in town.

After a considerable amount of research involving visits to places like Jon and Dorothea Bon Jovi’s Soul Kitchen in Red Bank and an initiative in St. Louis, they settled on a model that, eight years later, has become a local tradition. One Table Cafe invites patrons to pay what they can for three-course meals catered by local restaurants, served by volunteers on china plates at tables covered with white linen tablecloths and floral centerpieces.

“The idea is for people to experience what we call upscale dining,” said Ruth Scott, the coordinator of programming. “Some of the folks may not regularly go to restaurants in town. This gives them a way to have that experience.”

All are welcome at these monthly gatherings at Trinity’s Pierce-Bishop Hall, and they always include talks, music, and other forms of entertainment. Payments benefit four hunger partners: Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK), Mercer Street Friends, Bread for the World, and Episcopal Relief & Development Hunger Fund. More than 100 guests show up at most dinners.

“We all know that a meal brings people together. But we wanted to bring people together whose paths would not otherwise cross,” said Scott. “We want to really build community, so they can take this experience outside.”

A standing-room-only crowd showed up for the first event in 2011, which featured author and activist Cornel West as speaker. This Friday, April 20, TASK executive director Joyce Campbell will make a presentation. Olives, the Witherspoon Street eatery, is providing the meal of chicken cacciatore, rotini pasta, salad and vegetables, and cake.

Numerous local restaurants in town have participated in the program. “We have reached out to everybody — the Momos [owners of Mediterra and other restaurants], Jack Morrison [owner of Witherspoon Grill and other eateries], the Fenwick Group [Cargot, Agricola, Two Sevens], and more — and they have all helped out,” Scott said. “We’ve had Bahama Breeze in MarketFair mall, Lucy’s Kitchen, Chambers Walk Cafe, and so many others. We’re always out there looking.”

Tables fill up quickly and reservations are necessary. But there are often no-shows which allow those who haven’t booked to get in. While conversation is encouraged and efforts at intermingling are made,  “sometimes folks will come with family or friends and they want the opportunity to have dinner together, so we try to honor that,” said Scott.

Seating begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by a short program. “The idea of the programming is to provide a message that enlightens,” said Scott. “That’s an important part of what we do. We’ve had scholars, musicians, actors, community leaders — people telling their stories.”

Scott said that most of the people who attend can afford to make donations. “But we continue to work to have a larger percentage of the guests be individuals who could not have the experience otherwise,” she said. “It’s an ongoing objective to further diversify in terms of ethnicity, religion, and all those other markers. There is always room for growth. And that may mean an opportunity to diversify the menu more, too.”

Speakers and performers are booked eight or nine months in advance. On May 18, Susan Adams of Womanspace will be featured. The June 15 program will include Zoe Brookes and the Trenton Circus Squad. The July 20 dinner will be a barbecue on the lawn, with entertainment by the Ocean Country Band.

The volunteer servers are members of Trinity Church, Girl Scouts, the “Men Who Cook” from Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church, students from Princeton University, and others.

“It’s all about providing a nutritious meal, building community, and giving people a chance to have a special experience,” said Scott. “Everyone is welcome here.”