There is no common face of poverty. Not everyone holds up signs saying they’re homeless.
Maggie Kane opened A Place at the Table cafe in January this year, and it has a unique pay-what-you-can system. People believe it’s a cafe just for the homeless, but it’s not! Anyone can go and contribute. Although the cafe was recently opened, this project has been four years in the making, because, as Maggie says, special things take time to build! Maggie explains how her cafe helps people, the volunteers that work for her, and what the face of poverty really looks like.
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[3:10] Maggie started a pay-what-you-can cafe and explains how it all works. [6:10] Maggie has been building this for the last four years, but the cafe has only been open this year. [7:30] It takes time to build a community! You have to build it one relationship at a time. [9:20] Maggie had no experience with entrepreneurship or creating a non-profit, but was able to find really good people to help make this cafe a reality. [13:25] The menu does have a suggested price, but often people want to pay more because they want to pay it forward. [15:55] Maggie gives out a shoutout to her amazing staff and volunteers. [19:00] Where are all the people with the ‘I’m homeless’ signs? [21:45] Maggie is really good at loving people. That’s what life is about. [25:40] When you’re at the bottom bottom, how do you find the strength to get up? [28:40] People living in poverty get told ‘no’ a lot, and they are often ignored. [32:30] A Place at the Table helps change people’s mentality and spirit. [37:05] What are some of Maggie’s biggest challenges right now? [41:45] Maggie is so thankful she has fellow restaurant owners in the community helping her when unexpected things happen at her restaurant, [47:35] There were many times Maggie thought about closing the restaurant. However, she kept pushing through. [51:40] What you ask for, is what you get. Just asking can open up so many doors.Mentioned in This Episode:
