Come to The Table

Tony and Vicki Harris have been on a journey that would change their lives, seeing Tony giving away all their money and most of his clothes. It led them to start a group that would feed up to 50 people six nights a week during the height of the pandemic.

“I was working on a good wage, and I said, I’m going to stand in town and give everything away...”

It was Vicki Harris’ birthday in 2019; she and her husband, Tony, drove into Gravesend. Tony was looking for Vlad, a Russian he’d met who was sleeping rough in the town. Tony had promised Vicki he wouldn’t invite Vlad back to their house until they knew more about him.

But when he found Vlad, he wasn’t looking good. Tony said: “I just wanted to give him some comfort.” Knowing Tony as I do now, I know how this story will end. 

Vlad and Tony talked for a while when Vlad rolled onto one side and said, “I just wish I could get some comfort.” Those eight words triggered the moment that was to change their lives. Vlad wouldn’t be the last homeless person to stay with the Harrises. Prompted by his meeting with Vlad, Tony started 'The Table'.

The remainder of this interview with Tony and Vicki Harris on my blog.

New Road, Gravesend, UK. Visitors and volunteers gather around The Table in Gravesend town centre. This is a space on the street just like any other, but it has become home to a community.
Some visitors to The Table don't have the means to reheat the food, so they eat it as soon as they can. But by the time it gets to them the food is often not that warm.
The Table sets up in New Road, Gravesend. Long-time volunteer Warren (left) gets ready before the first visitors arrive.
Stone Willy's Pizza in Meopham, regularly donates food and drink to The Table. Gary Singh Sandhu New (right), the store's owner tells me he sees helping local projects, like The Table, as being part of the community.
Vicki and Tony Harris collect donated food and drink from Stone Willy's Pizza in Meopham.
As well as food, The Table receives donations of clothes for those who need them; two women discuss the options available.
Visitors to The Table chat over a cup of tea after collecting their food. Almost as important as the food, The Table is a place to meet, talk and connect with those in similar circumstances.
Warren, one of the regular volunteers, helps a man whose first language isn't English to understand a large number of letters he’s received from various authorities. Gravesend, Kent.
The group offers donated warm clothes as temperatures drop. A man holds a sweater against himself to judge the size.
September 2021, Gravesend: Vicki Harris starts to pack food into their van at the end of a long evening serving. Often, for Vicki, volunteering at The Table comes at the end of a long day working at a local care home.
Gary Singh Sandhu New, owner of Stone Willy's Pizza in Meopham, Kent. Stone Willy's regularly donates food and drink to The Table. Gary tells me he sees helping local projects, like The Table, as being part of the community.
Standing around The Table chatting and drinking tea can seem quite pleasant in the summer. As the temperature drops, the impending onset of winter is impossible to ignore.
Donated food is delivered to the Harrises home from volunteers around the borough. Vicki Harris packs takeaway bags, trying to make them as varied as possible.
Tony and Vicki make up take away bags to take to the The Table. For much of the time their sitting room looks like a food bank store room.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for home food delivery has rocketed; Deliveroo announced orders have doubled in the first half of 2021. Meanwhile, the Trussell Trust reported an 89% increase in three-day parcels given out by their food b
Running The Table is hard physical work and it's easy to see the toll it takes on Tony Harris. He spends much of each day loading and unloading the van which is in some ways more central to the survival of the project than The Table itself.
Tony, Vicki, and the other volunteers put on a Christmas celebration for the visitors. It's a fun evening, but I'm very aware that winter is on its way, and many of the people I've come to know have little or no heating at home.
One of the regular visitors, Reg, suffers from a very painful back meaning he can’t stand for long; he takes a welcome break from The Table Christmas celebrations.