VERSAILLES, Ky. — It’s a community café that provides farm-to-table meals to their guests, regardless of their ability to pay.
Kyle Fannin is the executive director of the Spark Community Cafe. He said, "The Spark Community Cafe is a pay it forward, pay what you can restaurant here in downtown Versailles. The way it works is that people come in and enjoy this fantastic farm-to-table food in this amazing environment, and instead of tipping a waitstaff, we are all volunteers here, they tip the mission."
The Spark Community Café's mission is to alleviate food insecurity in Woodford County, a task made even more difficult by the pandemic and return of dining restrictions.
Fannin says it has been tough to watch what is happening in the community because of the pandemic.
"Our first full year, we were about 12% of the meals went to the food insecure. So, to go from 12% to 67%, almost overnight, it's been difficult."
As restaurants like Spark brace for what lies ahead this holiday season, they can only look back at what worked for them when the pandemic started and find ways to cope for a second time.
Maria Bohanan with Woodford County Tourism said, "I think that our restaurants have been so nimble. This first time around, they've learned a lot, so they were ready to adapt. If you look through town, you will see some that have already set up tents prior to this. They knew something was going to happen with the weather changing. Although we all understand the restrictions and why they're occurring, it doesn't make it easier, but I think that they're going to take what they've learned and they're going to learn even more. "
Volunteers are crucial for the day to day operation of Spark. From seating guests to gathering orders, and welcoming new and familiar faces, each job is just as important as the next.
Fannin said finding help has been a tough job.
"It's very difficult to get volunteers, so it's basically board members now. We don't even ask people who might be at risk. A lot of our volunteers, as you could imagine, we're retired people and it's just too dangerous for them."
Volunteers that as of this past Friday, will no longer be able to serve guests like these in their dining room. An unfortunate reality for all Kentucky restaurants as they struggle through this new wave of the pandemic.
Fannin said, "We expected to make enough money to get us through the long, cold winter that it's going to be during this time, and that's not going to happen."
Bohanan believes the Cafe and others will make it.
"We're just going to have to re-energize ourselves and remember we have to stay diligent, keep these people open because what kind of restaurants you have says a lot about your community. It adds to your quality of life."
For the Spark Community Café, being able to fulfill their mission, comes down to the generosity of others through partnerships and donations; every dollar that comes in helps support their mission.
Fannin said, "We will put that to good use. Like I said, two-thirds of the meals coming out of the kitchen are going to the food insecure, and 80% of those are children."
A way you can pay-it-forward during the pandemic by supporting both restaurants and the customers they serve, one meal at a time.
In Woodford County, Amber Smith, Spectrum News One.