Edmond Cafe Serves Kindness, Free Coffee To Promote Food Bank

The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma is turning the tide on hunger through its Food for Kids program. Area businesses, like the Perk Place in Edmond, are jumping on board to help.

Wednesday, September 17th 2014, 6:43 pm

By: News 9

Edmond Cafe Serves Kindness, Free Coffee To Promote Food Bank

More than 675,000 Oklahomans are at risk of being hungry, one in four being a child. However, the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma is turning the tide on hunger through its Food for Kids program. Area businesses like the Perk Place in Edmond, are jumping on board to help.

"This is something we've centered our business around," Perk Place Owner Jeff Meyer said.

Jeff and Natalie Meyer took the plunge about six weeks ago and opened their own business in Edmond.

"When we began this journey, it was real important for us that value and generosity were part of who we are," Jeff said.

That's why their coffee shop serves up more than food and hot and cold beverages. It's a shop with a cause.

"We have children of our own, so the thought of a child going without food is heartbreaking," said Natalie Meyer, owner of Perk Place. "So whatever we can do to help, you know, end child hunger, hunger for anyone in general, we want to be a part of that."

Monday through Saturday, Perk Place offers free coffee between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. to get people in their doors and then, in turn, hope their patrons will add a donation to the generosity jar to help feed a child.

"We truly think that it tugs at their heart," Jeff said.

The Meyer's say $0.25 of each purchase at the café also goes to the Food for Kids program, which currently serves 18,500 chronically hungry children in Oklahoma. In just nearly six weeks, they've raised more than $700.

"We've had a great response and a lot of people," said Jeff. "I think it's been a passion of ours for a long time, and we're truly blessed to be in this position."

For every $200 raised, a child is provided with a backpack full of food each weekend throughout the school year. In the past year, the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma had 51 cause-marketing partners, which raised a total of $368,842 for Food for Kids.

Donate to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.