
Community Table, a free lunch program for eligible senior citizens of the North End, West End and Beacon Hill, was recently celebrated at a kick-off event at Community Work Services at 174 Portland Street in Boston. Over 50 senior residents of the local neighborhoods attended the kick-off luncheon as well as John Drew, President and CEO of ABCD, Serena Powell, President and CEO of Community Work Services, Lia Tota, Director of the NE/WE Neighborhood Service Center, City Council President Michael Ross, State Representatives Marty Walz and Aaron Michlewitz, and Eliza Greenberg, Commissioner of Boston’s Elderly Affairs.

The ABCD North End/West End Neighborhood Service Center (NE/WE NSC) and Community Work Services (CWS) are partnering in this new program to provide eligible senior citizens in their neighborhoods with a hot lunch along with activities such as guest speakers, music, and holiday celebrations.
Community Work Services has a culinary arts training program for their participants and students prepare and serve hot meals for approximately 20 seniors twice a week.

L-R Lia Tota, Director of the ABCD North End/West End Neighborhood Service Center; Representative Aaron Michlewitz; Serena Powell, President and CEO of Community Work Services; Eliza Greenberg, Commissioner of Boston Elder Affairs; John Drew, President and CEO of ABCD
The NE/WE NSC is part of Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) and is an antipoverty agency that provides educational and social services to nearly 2,400 North End, West End, and Beacon Hill residents a year.
Community Work Services is a local agency that helps more that 700 Boston-area residents who face barriers to work to obtain employment and to achieve greater self-sufficiency through innovative job training, placement, and support services. Founded by a group of charitable women in 1877 as the Cooperative Society of Visitors Among the Poor of Boston to provide vocational training to struggling members of the West End neighborhood, Community Work Services is the oldest vocational rehabilitation facility in the United States.

The Community Table lunch program is an innovative opportunity to serve neighbors in need and to prepare CWS’ participants to enter the growing culinary arts field. The Community Table is provided on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:00AM-2:30PM for North End, West End and Beacon Hill residents at Community Work Services on 174 Portland Street (between Causeway Street and Valenti Way).
Interested eligible participants need to call 617-263-4650 or 617-523-8125 to make a reservation for the weekly lunches. Lunch is offered on a first-come first-serve basis to the first 20 participants each day and staff will waitlist people if necessary. Reservations are a must.