Imagine that you’re down on your luck. You’re not sure where to turn.
In coming months, one option in McKean County could be taking a seat at The Open Table, a program that involves meeting with people who would help with such subjects as finance, occupation and education, housing, healthcare and transportation and insurance.
The Behavioral Health Alliance of Rural Pennsylvania chose McKean County for The Open Table program, and the county is receiving part of a federal grant to help with the first year of the effort.
This won’t just be any community resource, though. This will be where faith meets government.
“The Open Table is an opportunity for this area to help people grow within the community,” said the Rev. Seth McClymonds of the Tower Church-First United Methodist of Bradford. “I believe it is needed for those who want to change their current situation, but do not know where to turn to do so. The Open Table provides community for those involved so no one goes alone.”
Those individuals could be homeless, working poor, young adults transitioning out of foster care, veterans, probationers or parolees and survivors of human trafficking.
“Basically, it’s a model to be able to help individuals into some level of self-sufficiency,” said Lee Sizemore, administrator of the McKean County Department of Human Services.
As part of a year-long commitment, individuals act a specialists, encouragers and advocates for individuals who need a helping hand.
“The Table members, together with the individual or family being helped, establish goals, accountability, develop an overall plan and implement it,” according to literature on the program. “Table members network in their congregations and the community for resources to support the plan. As Tables end, they transition into an After Plan, through which Table members and Brothers and Sisters are able to remain in supportive community together.”
One congregation can host an Open Table and as many as three congregations can share a Table, according to information on the program. A group of volunteers serves for eight to 12 months. For example, 10 to 12 people help an adult or family and six to seven assist a young adult transitioning out of foster care or a veteran. Typically, the Table meets with an individual once a week and then less frequently as time goes on.
“We want to try to find new ways of being church in the 21st century,” said the Rev. Robert Klouw of the First Presbyterian Church of Bradford, which will host the program.
The local Open Table is expected to be organized in the coming weeks, and members would be trained.
“The start date is uncertain,” McClymonds said. “There are training events being scheduled and a timeline will be developed after the training events.”
Other counties to have been chosen for The Open Table include Northumberland, Snyder, Union, Montour, Columbia, Forest and Warren counties.
The Open Table, based in Phoenix, Ariz., is already in several states.
