01/18/2017 Owasso – After almost 3 years of helping end hunger in Owasso while creating community, the Board of Directors of OpenTable Community Café, Inc. has decided it is time for us to close – we have run out of money.
It was 3 years ago, this week that Rev. Melinda Foster and Audrey Reeve first looked at the Café property. It had just been vacated because the owners of the Thai restaurant retired. Melinda asked Rev. Natalie Bell at First Presbyterian Church and Rev. Bob Lawrence with OpenTable UCC to dream with her about a community café where people come to eat regardless of their ability to pay and create community to add meaning to people’s lives.
Here is a partial list of the ways both parts of our mission have been realized over the last 3 years:
-
We worked together to make a comfortable dining area to offer hospitality to everyone.
-
We hired a chef and barista who were experienced in their trade and wanted to be part of the community
-
Every week we served people who were food insecure along side people who needed a friend, a place to be affirmed, space to re-group after being ill, having surgery or losing a job.
-
We served over 17,000 meals and over 30 % – 5100 – of our meals were served to people who are food insecure.
-
We paid our staff a living wage.
-
We encouraged sustainability of the earth by recycling, reusing and reducing.
-
We have been a place to gather for meetings, book studies, birthday parties and more.
-
We have given people a place to volunteer and make a difference.
-
We offered Youth Café. Over 300 students benefitted because we were open every school day and provided free snacks, Wi-Fi and a place to have fun and visit with friends.
-
We offered a Summer Lunch Program with Disciples Christian Church which served over 100 students each summer a much needed meal.
-
Children loved to come here because of our games and toys and the freedom they to be themselves.
We regret that we will no longer be community in this place. Since the need for people to have a good meal regardless of their ability to pay still exists, we pray that another avenue will open up for people to be fed and able to meet for community.
We are staying open for regular meal service until Saturday, January 28th. To celebrate the community we have created, we will have a Pancake Breakfast – just like when we opened – on January 28th. It will be a time to come in and say goodbye and enjoy one last breakfast with Chef Anthony and Manager Stacie. It will also be an opportunity to thank our other staff members and our many volunteers.
In keeping with our mission, we want to close in a manner that is responsible to our employees, our vendors, our partners, our customers and, especially, our donors. We have no overdue bills, and everything is paid to date. However, in addition to the regular costs of being open through January 28th, there are some additional expenses related to closing. We would greatly appreciate your assistance in making sure we have sufficient funds to cover what we anticipate it will cost us to close the Café. Here’s an estimate:
-
$2,000 – payoff lease agreement (expires 3/31/2017)
-
1,000 – estimated final utility payments
-
1,000 – estimated final employee obligations (unpaid vacation, etc.)
-
1,000 – estimated taxes and insurance
-
1,500 – accounting services to assist with final distribution of assets (est’d)
-
8,500 – January bills and payroll
-
Estimated total of $15,000
Any funds over what is needed to close will benefit Owasso Community Resources.
You can donate online – our website: www.opentablecc.org or on FaceBook. You can drop a check by the Café. You can buy raffle tickets for our beautiful quilt that has hung in the Café since it opened. You can come play Bunco at the Bailey Education Foundation (10502 N 110th East Avenue, Owasso) next Tuesday, January 24th, from 6-8 p.m. or you can come eat Pancakes with us on Saturday, January 28th from 8-noon.
You have always helped make OpenTable Community Café possible. We are counting on you to help us close the Café honorably.
GOOD NEWS!!
First Presbyterian Church of Owasso has decided to adopt Youth Café as their own. Everything will stay the same except the location – which is only a block away. The Presbyterians are making a café area in their church close to the kitchen. They are hiring Shannon Sand to stay as the coordinator of the program. Target will still provide the snacks. Free Wifi is available. Games will be played.
Youth Café will continue to meet at the Café location through February 17th. After President’s Day break, Youth Café will open at First Presbyterian Church, 12800 E 85th St N (across the street from McAlister’s) on February 22nd. The hours will continue from 2:30 to 4:00. Volunteers are still needed.
Thank you, First Presbyterian Church for continuing this important part of OpenTable’s mission.
