Three Standards: We are a Nonprofit, a Restaurant, AND Green
1.) We are a Nonprofit
While we are a Café, SAME is a Federal 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. This simply means that our goal is not to make a profit, but rather to serve our community. Because of this, we must fundraise to make up the difference in income we experience compared to for-profit restaurants. You can learn more about this in the Financial Model section of this course.
2.) We are a Restaurant
We comply with all restaurant standards and undergo industry standard inspections from the health department. We repeatedly receive A+ ratings and have been referred to as a model for cleanliness. This happens because we know that our standards must be better than a for-profit restaurant in order to sufficiently serve all of our guests. We recognize the importance of cleanliness and uphold a consistently high standard so that our guests, particularly those lacking access to healthcare, can be assured that they will be nourished and safe.
Pictured: Tidy kitchen space at SAME Denver
Though we are a restaurant, we still take trauma informed considerations very seriously (you can explore more in the next lesson: Trauma Informed Considerations). Our staff is trained in trauma informed care and we keep an updated resource board in the café with community events, mission-aligned causes and organizations, and other resources. Check out an example of a resource board from SAME Denver below.
Pictured: A Resource Board located in SAME Café Denver
Video: Why food safety and cleanliness is vital at SAME
3.) We are a Green Restaurant
SAME is earth friendly and focuses on naturally-grown produce and organic practices. We practice a variety of methods to extend our belief in caring for the planet. We strive to source as much of our food as possible locally and use every aspect of the food. Packaging at SAME is kept to a minimum. In every SAME kitchen, recycling and composting are prioritized over waste, and we work to teach our staff and volunteers proper sorting methods.
