Despite still being a neophyte to the community food and arts scene, Ten Mile Table, created in partnership with Hudson Valley favorites The Lantern Inn and the venerated Wassaic Project, both located in the town of Wassaic, NY, has already made an indelible impression by celebrating hospitality up and down the Tenmile River as its name implies. There is no doubt the bordering corners of New York and Connecticut are home to a dynamic, unique, and talented community of artisans and food craftsmen who connect through the spirit of hospitality. “We aim to highlight and nurture food and art collaboration in our area, and directly support those intricately connected networks,” says Ten Mile Table organizer and Lantern Inn Beverage Director Erika DaSilva. “This pocket of the Harlem Valley is rich with creativity, dedication, a real sense of place; all certainly exciting contributions to celebrate. We’d been planning a summer event series until the current crisis happened, and knew the best way to make a positive impact was to shift towards fundraising and awareness.”
As a result of this initiative, Ten Mile Table will be launching its first project called Our Community Auction, an online 
fundraising auction beginning this Friday and running until the end of May with proceeds from the auction benefiting local charities, restaurants, and largely local food pantries. With the need for food growing exponentially, much of the funds raised will provide a budget for volunteer chefs to prepare meals, grocery bags, and whatever else might be needed. Erika says, “each item for bid clearly shows how their funds will benefit, and visitors can also donate directly to our food pantry pot.”
Erika credits Ariel Yotive, head baker at Troutbeck, as being instrumental in connecting with the three organizations that will be working directly with Ten Mile Table including Food of Life at the St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Amenia, NY, the North East Community Center in Millerton, NY, and MESA Immigrant Outreach at Grace Church in Millbrook, NY. “Ariel has been a dedicated partner for me in finding the right ways to help. We saw a need to not only find ways to make meals, but get chefs back in the kitchen and support purveyors,” says Erika. “Chefs from Troutbeck and The Lantern have pledged their time to aid this aspect of the project on top of providing some truly incredible items for bid.” Some of the items up for bid include a baking class with nationally renowned baker Jessie Sheehan and a riverside open fire dinner with Troutbeck’s Head Chef Gabe McMackin.
For more information about Ten Mile Table’s initiative, or to find our how to enter the Community Auction, visit tenmiletable.com