MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee County has the second highest rate of food insecurity in Wisconsin, according to data from Feeding America.
Tricklebee Cafe, located at 4424 W. North Ave., is aiming to combat the issue. The café is a pay-what-you-can community café that offers healthy meals, food-service training and spiritual nourishment.
Everything at the café is made fresh daily.
T’yannah Lel is the café manager. As someone who would come into the cafe for a bite to eat, she knew this was a place she would want to be.
She said she was drawn in by the love shown there, especially by the owner Christie Melby-Gibbons.
“Maybe after three times of coming here, Christie remembered my name,” said Lel. “I’ve never been to a restaurant that I go to often that they remember my name, so that really stuck with me.”
Volunteer Joana Enriquez Lopez said she was also drawn into the mission. It’s why she spends her Fridays helping prep and cook food.
“I’ve had zero experience with food,” said Enriquez Lopez. “I realized it had a really good mission and is taking care of people who really needed it.”
As executive director, Melby-Gibbons said the café’s goal is to make the area a more food secure neighborhood.
“Pay what you can is this radical idea that everyone deserves good food, regardless of how much money they have in their pockets,” she said.
She said they offer more than just food, but a place to experience community. Melby-Gibbons said it’s a peaceful place to gather. It’s strategically placed in a neighborhood that has experienced violence and neglect.
“It’s a lot of work physically, like I’m tired in my bones sometimes at the end of the day, but my spirit is never tired with this work,” said Melby-Gibbons.
She said she’s proud to work with her great staff.
Lel said this is a place where she can put her love for cooking to use.
“It’s not work to me,” said Lel. “It’s actually my passion.”
Like most of the cafe staff, Lel said she’s glad to be serving the community she calls home.
Tricklebee Cafe is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.