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The Foco Cafe:
Creating change through community
The FoCo Cafe on a cloudy day in Fort Collins, Oct. 23, 2018. The cafe, located north of old town, is Fort Collins' only non-profit restaurant.
The cafe is run on a pay-what-you-are-able donation basis. If customers cannot afford a meal they may volunteer or share a talent in exchange for their food. Oct. 23, 2018.
The FoCo Cafe's mission is to build community by providing nutritious and delicious meals to the people of Fort Collins regardless of their ability to pay. The cafe uses mostly local, organic, and sustainably grown ingredients. Oct. 25, 2018.
Trever Ladwig, one of the head chefs for the cafe cuts apples before the lunch rush, Oct. 19, 2018.
Executive Director Mallory Garneau, 27, chats with a volunteer about event ideas. She became the director of the cafe in the summer of 2017. It's her job to write grants, maintain social media sites, and generate the renvenue that will keep the cafe going. Oct. 23, 2018.
The winter harvest beginning to sprout in the greenhouses at Native Hill Farm, Oct. 25, 2018. Native Hill uses its greenhouses to donate fresh produce to the FoCo Cafe through the winter.
The name, "FoCo Cafe" stands for "Feeding Our Community Ourselves." The cafe addresses issues of food insecurity, homelessness and poverty, all while building community and creating a warm and welcoming environment for everyone who comes in, Oct. 23, 2018.
Mallory Garneau handles the last fresh tomatoes to be harvested for the cafe from the 2018 growing season, which was cut short by an early frost, Oct. 19, 2018.
Coffee cups await use, Oct. 23, 2018. The restaurant serves as a place for socializing, building community engagement and lending a helping hand to those who may be down.
The FoCo Cafe has been strapped for money in the past, and relies on donors and grants for 52% of their overall income. Oct. 23, 2018.
A lot of work happens behind the scenes to keep the cafe running. Two volunteers prepare food and execute plans on the morning of Oct. 23, 2018.
Farmers at Native Hill Farm in Fort Collins plant out in the fields, Oct. 25, 2018.
Jeff and Kathleen Baumgardner founded the FoCo Cafe back in 2014. They have since retired to Hawaii, but are still recognized and honored by the cafe daily. Oct. 23, 2018.
Kelly Wallace digs into some hand made bread pudding fresh from the Cafe's kitchen, Oct. 24, 2018.
Community members enjoy milk and cake at an evening fundraising event at the cafe, Oct. 24, 2018. The FoCo Cafe is a staple in the Fort Collins community, and is loved by people of all means, generations and backgrounds.
A volunteer plays guitar outside the cafe for one of their "Save The FoCo Cafe" events intended to build community and encourage donations, Oct. 24, 2018.
The cafe looking bright and lively against the night sky, Oct. 24, 2018. The Cafe is typically open from 11:00 - 2:00 everyday, but will occasionally stay open for events and festivities. The volunteers and patrons hope to keep this unique organization open as long as possible, and will continue to seek the help they need.
Visit https://fococafe.org/ for more information, cafe hours and donations to help
SAVE THE FOCO CAFE!
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