MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. - On April 24, the community will gather to help combat food insecurity as the Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry (MKIFP) holds their second annual “Community Table” event.
The evening will bring guests together to break bread and raise funds and awareness for the MKIFP and their continuing mission of providing nutritious, fresh food for our neighbors in need.
Located at the United Methodist Church in Mount Kisco, the pantry serves the residents of 21 communities throughout northern Westchester. During the 2024 fiscal year, the pantry had 118,282 in-person visits, of which 26% were children and 11% were senior citizens.
Halston Media recently caught up with event co-chairs Rhonda Spevak and Jessica Crescenzi to learn more about this year’s Community Table event and how residents can help the pantry.
Friends & Neighbors
“Last year was a first year for the Community Table, and I think the mission was really to get more exposure around the different hamlets within the area,” explains Crescenzi. “And I think we did a really good job. I think that we touched a lot of new families and a lot of new people.”
While approximately 90% of the pantry’s guests are from the Mount Kisco and Bedford area, it also serves residents of Armonk, Chappaqua, Cross River, Croton Falls, Goldens Bridge, Hawthorne, Katonah, Millwood, Pleasantville, Pound Ridge, Purdys, North Salem, Sleepy Hollow, South Salem, Thornwood, Valhalla, Waccabuc, and Yorktown Heights.
“It’s reflective of what community really is,” adds Spevak. “We all function in different circles within a larger community. There are the communities where our kids go to school, the immediate community where we live with our neighbors, where we work, where we socialize. We can sometimes become a little insular. This is an opportunity to be exposed to the needs and struggles of nearby communities which we don’t typically engage with on a daily basis."
Setting the Table
Executive Director Trina Ward Fontaine painted the picture of just how important the organization’s mission truly is, as she shared the statistics for the pantry’s 2024 fiscal year.
During that period, 714 households relied on visits to the pantry each week, showing a 16% increase in demand from the previous year. In total, they distributed 1,032,600 pounds of food, enough to prepare more than 1.5 million meals. The effort is backed by 675 volunteers who donated approximately 12,000 hours of time.
“We still need to serve so many more people,” says Crescenzi. “The demand has increased tremendously, and its about getting people aware. Our mission for the Community Table is really getting people to understand how far their money goes, and how they can continue to donate throughout the year. And there are so many different ways to do that.”
Breaking Bread
This year’s Community Table will be held on Thursday, April 24, from 6 to 9 p.m. A Katonah family has graciously opened their home for the event, which is expected to see 200 guests attending.
“One of the things we want to do is bring in new people who aren't aware of or involved with the pantry,” says Spevak. “Since it will be held in this beautiful nearby home, we wanted to include food and offerings from several local businesses.”
Providing the nourishment for the evening will be a litany of locals who will be contributing their services in support of the pantry’s mission, including Revel with Dinner Thyme, 109 Cheese & Wine, Exit 4 Food Hall, Milk Bar, and Purdys Farmer & the Fish. The evening’s wine selection will be prepared by a local sommelier, Christy Counts of Neverstill. oHHo will provide espresso martinis and an array of their carbonated seltzers.
Guests will enjoy food from small plates and grazing boards, which Spevak and Crescenzi believe will help to enhance the feeling of community for the evening.
“We want it to be a moment to introduce, celebrate, and support the pantry,” concludes Crescenzi. “That's the bottom line. That's why everyone's gathered there.”
For More Information
To purchase tickets or learn more about sponsorship and donation opportunities, contact development@mountkiscofoodpantry.org or visit www.mountkiscofoodpantry.org/community-table-2025
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