Some might call it serendipity, some might call it fate, but the way Essentials Cafe came to exist, we're inclined to call it a "God thing."
A few years ago, Dawn Fenner was motivated by the enthusiasm of Christy Melby-Gibbons, who during a Moravian Women's Conference, spoke about a pay-what-you-can community cafe. Dawn pictured herself opening a little restaurant where people would come for comfort food after a hard day. It would be like visiting Grammy's house where the welcome would always be authentic, the meals would always be wholesome, and the visitors would come away with their souls soothed as well as their bellies filled. And if someone dropped in without a nickel to spend, well, at Grammy's house, that wouldn't ever be a barrier.
Meanwhile, three friend-colleagues were concocting a shared vision of their own. On an eventful car ride, Tammie Rinker, Lynnette Delbridge and Chris Johnson spoke of their hopes for creating meaningful solutions to community challenges. Taking inspiration from another friend-colleague's work in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the threesome wondered if something similar could be established locally. By the end of the road trip, the concept for a pay-what-you-can community cafe in Bethlehem had taken shape. (Learn more about the inspiring work of Christie Melby-Gibbons and Tricklebee Cafe.)
Through a common denominator, through connections to the Moravian Church, one lay person and three ordained pastors, were brought together, and an opportunity for collaboration was discovered. With a burst of synergy, Essentials Cafe came to be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2022 and opened its doors as a pay-what-you-can community cafe in November 2023.
All things work together for good!
