City Assists Table of Grace See Their Vision

It started as a dream based on need, and now includes the City of Sidney.

Table of Grace is a food pantry and thrift store located on Alvarado Street in Sidney. It's primary focus is to offer food to families in need. Some of their offerings are without income guidelines and others follow specific income scales.

The Table of Grace has partnered with Sandhills Global. The goal is to secure a building that could better help meet the needs of the people Table of Grace serves. In the course of researching the community, several buildings were considered; each discounted for one reason or the other; from price to condition of the building.

In the course of researching the real estate market, Sandhills also sponsored construction of mobile food pantry trailers; one for Sidney and Cheyenne County, and the second for Lincoln.

In the Jan. 12 meeting of the Sidney City Council, City Manager David Scott said Sandhills, represented by Jim Hansen, and Table of Grace director Sherri Eads have been working toward a new site. Scott's memo to the city council says “about a year and a half ago the city was approached by Hansen of Sandhills Global about acquiring a building to relocate the current Table of Grace location. After researching the private real estate market, Hansen decided building a new facility might be the best option. Hansen met with Scott and Mayor Roger Gallaway

The proposed location is a tract near the former recycling facility on Elm Street. The location was chosen as best for “zoning and other reasons,” according to Scott's memo to the council.

“We can get electric and water to the location easily, but the facility will need to get a septic system approved by the Planning Commission,” Scott said in his presentation to the council.

“The only thing we struggle with is sewer,” Scott told the council

He said the options for sewer service is west through Boot Hill, or east toward the railroad tracks.

The proposal was approved by the council with a 4-0 vote with councilman Joe Arterburn absent.