Families Back to the Table, Inc., a non-profit support organization, has a brand-new home on Madison’s east side that will help them serve more families in Dane County and Families Back to the Table Director Lisa Burrell could not be more excited.
“I love it. It feels great. This is really wonderful,” Burrell tells Madison365. “We’re committed to keeping families together and helping families set goals and helping them to integrate and interact in their communities. We empower families with strength and support to stay on the right path.”
Families Back to the Table hosted a ribbon-cutting for the grand opening of its new facility at 2001 Zeier Rd., near East Towne Mall, on Oct. 17 for the Madison-based organization that provides support to parents and other caregivers of vulnerable children, those who are disabled, medically fragile, drug-exposed, abused or neglected, and those at risk of abuse or neglect.
“We serve families. We provide them with resources. We also partner with Dane County Human Services to get families back on their feet and help them and support them as they deal with different situations,” Burrell says. “Right now, these are tough times and families really need our help.”
State Reps. Shelia Stubbs and Samba Baldeh joined representatives from Dane County Human Services to celebrate at the ribbon-cutting event.
“It was an honor to see the grand opening of Families Back To The Table Inc., and to celebrate this wonderful development,” Stubbs says. “As the former Dane County Board of Supervisor for District 23, I ensured funding was allocated to Families Back to The Table, Inc. in the county budget. I want to thank Program Director Lisa Burrell for all of her hard work in making this organization a reality. This progress will make a real difference in the lives of our neighbors.
“Families Back To The Table, Inc. will empower families across Dane County, and help provide informational services to keep families together,” she adds. “Through direct intervention, Families Back To The Table will promote stability within families and transform lives within our community.”
Families Back To The Table has received over $700,000 in financial backing from Dane County. Prior to their recent move, the organization had been renting a space on Seobold Rd. on Madison’s west side. This location, Burrell says, is much better.
“The east side location is wonderful. We love it. There are so many people that find this very accessible and some are able to walk to our food pantry and get the resources they need,” she says.
The new location has a big food pantry for families and a computer lab for both children and adults. “We have a play area for children to do activities as people look for jobs or get other resources at Families Back to the Table,” Burrell says. “We have snacks prepared for the children while they are here.”
Empowering, strengthening and supporting families on their path to a better life is something Burrell says has always loved to do.
“I had a passion for this at a young age,” Burell says. “I was born and raised in Chicago and have always loved just to help people. And so then when I came here 21 years ago, I began to work again with children.”
Burrell says that she has six children of her own, all grown, has adopted seven children and fosters 16 children here in Madison.
“I’ve worked in [the] Allied [Drive] area with children and have worked in [the] Darbo [Worthington area]. So to finally have a place after 21 years, moving here from Chicago, I really love it,” Burrell says. “It’s something I always wanted and it really will help with the work that we do. I love to see people happy and I love to see them smile.
“It’s exciting now that I have the building I can see many faces and I can help many people and will be able to reach out to many people,” she adds. “I will feel really good about just being able to provide for a family, being able to save a child, being able to just be there and showing the people that they have someone that cares for them, someone that doesn’t judge them, someone they can vent to in a safe space.”
Stubbs says that “a strong community starts with strong families.”
“By promoting constructive change with an emphasis on a family-driven approach, we will begin to see more families stay stronger, together,” Stubbs says.
“I want to thank the Dane County Department of Human Services for partnering with Families Back To The Table, and for investing in proven programming, she adds. “It was an honor to advocate for this organization while on the Dane County Board of Supervisors, and I look forward to seeing their progress make a real impact in Madison.”
If you or your family needs any type of assistance you can stop in at Families Back to the Table at 2001 Zeier Rd., or call Lisa Burrell at (608)209-5114.
