Rachelle
Student Staff
Center for Urban Connections
Monday, May 24, 2010
Panera Opens a 'Pay as you want' Non-profit Store, Similar to SAME Cafe
In Denver, we have a great Non-profit called SAME Cafe. As previously stated in past blogs, SAME Cafe provides an all organic vegetarian meal for anyone who walks into their doors. The cost for the meal is based on a donation from the customer to pay what they think it was worth. If a person does not have funds to donate, they are encouraged to volunteer their time for an hour, by preparing food and cleaning at SAME Cafe. This is a fairly new concept to many, but it is something that has provided greatness in our community. Following the SAME Cafe non-profit, Panera Bread Co. has launched a Non-profit store in Missouri. Their mission for opening that store was to open their restaurant to new ways. Panera created a non-profit foundation that is running the store in Missouri. If this store is effective, then Panera hopes to have more locations with this mission. I think that it is great for a commercial restaurant to be thinking philanthropically. Since this store is in a high end neighborhood, many customers are "well-to-do" like lawyers, but with its "take what you need, leave your fair share' policy lower income individuals are able to go. Some may pay full price, while others decide to have discounts or pay half. Panera's Foundation is paying salaries, rent and the food costs for the restaurant. I hope this model is effective and works for other businesses. This is big news for the non-profit world, because it seems in a far from distant future, philanthropy and business will collaborate to provide a world of giving. I read this article in the Daily Camera. If you would like to read it, read about SAME Cafe here in Denver or learn about Panera's new 'pay as you want' store, links will be provided below or copy/paste onto your browser. Have a great week!
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