The cafe
I would like to get this cafeteria-styled cafe going, that will provide free food to individuals and families when they come in. It would be free to the public and run like the cafeterias found in bigger companies and schools, where there are options to chose from and a set menu schedule. I was thinking that one section could be the deli section for sandwiches and wraps, another section for pizza, a salad bar, and a section for dinner and main courses.
To get this started, I'm not sure if we'll find a suitable kitchen already built (with maybe minor renovations), or if we'll have to start from scratch, or maybe buy a truck and have a smaller menu, but I do know that I want to start feeding the hungry sooner rather than later, and would appreciate any advice on how to move forward with that.
I'd like to hire a quality chef (and team) to make good food, and they would be paid by the tithe and donations. (I'd like to be able to run everything on tithe, offerings, and donations. There'd be a tithe and offerings box in the lobby of the main meeting room and a tithe and donations box in the cafe. The cafe will be free and open for anyone, not just residents and members.)
I'd hope that we could grow most of our own food (indoor and outdoor garden and hydroponic systems) and source everything else locally and humanely. At UW-Parkside, they have these reusable to-go containers that students can use to take to their rooms and bring back, and I'd like to see something like this, too, so people can take and reheat leftovers in their home.