Sheer numbers relay how popular the free food outreach known as Ethan’s Table has become since a flurry of local and metro media made an 11-year-old boy with a big heart and a big idea semi-famous in the heartland.
Fifteen thousand people saw one of the recent posts on the Ethan’s Table Facebook page about free, donated steakhouse dinner rolls available at the stand just beyond the corner of 13th Street and Gladstone Avenue in Columbus.
“Probably the biggest thing about all this since we started (Ethan’s Table) is the overall number of people now (paying attention),” said Jessica Reynolds.
She’s the mom of Ethan Reynolds. Ethan launched Ethan’s Table April 2 with some help from her and his allowance money after he saw men locally holding cardboard signs featuring messages that they needed food for their family amid COVID-19’s job losses.
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Since The Republic featured the duo in a story in early May, professional signage courtesy of Prestige Printing has been added, along with the fresh produce purchased with residents’ donations and some of the youngster’s money earned from lawn mowing. Plus, volunteer Emily Reynolds — no relation — is now making cloth masks at $5 each to help fund items for the table, generally open from sunrise to sunset.
The masks are available via contactless pickup at 325 McClure Road.
And, because Ethan will soon begin eLearning at home, his mom, currently working as a food delivery driver, will be around to make sure the table remains open for the needy, no questions asked. People are free to walk or drive up, look over a selection of food, toiletries and more, and take what they need.
“It’s really nice and comforting to know (it’ll go on),” Ethan Reynolds said.
He loves how his mom sprouted the idea to add fresh produce to offerings whenever possible, including 55 pounds of green beans initially. People snapped them up in less than 24 hours, which perhaps says something about the current food and grocery needs.
“I thought it was a great idea, and I was really grateful,” the youngster said.
Days ago, she purchased a batch of fresh tamales from a State Street Mexican restaurant and was giving them away to visitors to the table.
She also has purchased huge amounts of red potatoes and corn for the needy. She posts signs on the table about such supplies so people can ask for it, since it’s kept inside out of the summer heat.
“Until then, I had been spending (financial) donations as only a little bit here and there,” his mother said.
Two weeks ago, she had been digging through boxes of family mementos and found a newspaper clipping about her son’s great-great grandmother who regularly gathered Christmas food baskets for the needy years ago. She never knew.
“I suppose,” she said, “that kindheartedness is in his blood.”
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Currently available daily mostly from sunrise to sunset at 2515 13th St. in Columbus. People take whatever they need with no questions asked.
Includes a wide range of nonperishable food, bottled water, fresh produce occasionally and also toiletries from shampoo to (sometimes) toilet paper.
It is currently supported by those donating items and money. Donations can be made via Pay Pal.
Information: Facebook page for Ethan’s Table.
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