CP Neighborhood cafe donates to Dine Out

Cornwall Park’s local neighborhood café, The Grace Café, contributes to the 10th Annual Dine Out to feed the homeless and hungry.

The 10th Annual Dine Out for Maple Alley Inn on Tuesday, May 4, boosted business at the Grace Café in the Cornwall Park Neighborhood, café employees said.

Customers felt happy that part of their purchase was donated to help the homeless and hungry, according to café employees.

Jacque Rafferty, a barista at Grace Café, has worked at the cafe for two years.

“It’s definitely been busier than usual today,” Rafferty said.

Maple Alley Inn has been helping the homeless and hungry for almost 20 years, according to Opportunity Council Director of Communications Sheri Burgler-Emerson. In 2009 Maple Alley Inn served more than 15,000 meals, she said.

How Dine Out helps the hungry

The Opportunity Council is a private, non-profit agency that operates the Maple Alley Inn program, according to Burgler-Emerson. She said the Opportunity Council holds the annual Dine Out event to boost donations.

According to Burgler-Emerson, in 2009, restaurants and cafes donated $20,000 to Dine Out.

Twenty percent of proceeds are donated to feed free, hot meals to the homeless and hungry, Burgler-Emerson said. This year 40 restaurants participated in Dine Out, she said.

Co-owner of the Grace Café, Heidi Larson, said the café has been participating in Dine Out since 2003. Larson said she and her husband decided to participate in Dine Out because it is a good way to give back to the community. She said Maple Alley Inn program is a good resource for people who are hungry.

“It’s a good way to funnel our resources to this organization to help feed people,” Larson said.

Andy Catterall,a first-time customer at The Grace Café, sat at a table sipping his grande drip coffee and typing on his laptop. Catterall said he lives in Redmond, Wash., and was visiting Bellingham for business.

“I’m very pleased and happy to contribute,” he said.

Café hopes to make big donation

Burgler-Emerson said the proceeds do not last the entire year but the Dine Out event gives Maple Alley Inn a big boost. She said the money goes directly toward food needs and staffing needs.

“If we could do the same that would be great,” said Burgler-Emerson, about this year’s donations.

Larson said out of the seven years that the café has donated proceeds to Dine Out, last year’s contribution was lower than ever. Larson said the hard economy stopped people from coming to the café.

Larson said she hopes to donate more than $300 to Dine Out this year.

“Any money at all really helps the program,” Burgler-Emerson said.

Pie and bagels keep customers coming back

Dressed in a matching blue sweater and blue pants with a paisley walking cane, Carlene Beasley, 87, sat by the café window eating her lunch. Beasley said she lives in Fairhaven, and she does not drive that often. She said she only comes out to the Grace Café about once a month.

“It’s a fine way to help them out,” said Beasley about proceeds being donated to Maple Alley Inn.

Her silver and gold bangles on each wrist jingled every time she took a bite of her chocolate cream pie.

“I can’t resist the pie,” Beasley said. “They make them so good.”

Heidi Larson said her husband, Todd Larson, makes the café’s pies from scratch. She said the café offers other homemade baked goods like bagels, gooey cinnamon rolls and huge cookies.

Jack and Marla Sprouls, regular customers from Lynden, and visit the restaurant two to three times a month. Marla Sprouls said it is a very nice thing for a restaurant to donate part of their proceeds to help feed the homeless and hungry.

“It’s their civic duty,” she said.

Marla Sprouls said not every café has salt bagels and salmon cream cheese. Jack Sprouls said the bagels and cream cheese keep him and his wife coming back to the Grace Café.

“It’s a nice, homey place to come,” Marla Sprouls said. “Everyone here is friendly.” #