FoCo Cafe Seeks Turkey Donations for 11th Annual Thanksgiving Lunch
A Fort Collins nonprofit cafe is collecting frozen turkeys to serve more than 250 community members at its upcoming Thanksgiving lunch on November 27.
FoCo Cafe, a pay-what-you-can community restaurant at 225 Maple Street, needs donations through November 25 to support the event. Drop-off hours run Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The organization serves the meal to anyone seeking community connection on the holiday, regardless of ability to pay. The cafe operates on a model allowing diners to pay what they can, contribute extra to support others, or exchange volunteer time for meals.
Growing Community Need
FoCo Cafe has expanded its food assistance efforts significantly in recent months as food insecurity has increased across Northern Colorado. The cafe now serves nearly 1,000 meals monthly through its Meal Exchange program, a tenfold increase over previous years, according to the organization.
The Thanksgiving collection comes as multiple Larimer County organizations ramp up holiday food drives. The Food Bank for Larimer County is seeking 4,700 turkeys this season to meet demand intensified by a federal SNAP benefit freeze.
About FoCo Cafe
Opened to the public on Thanksgiving Day 2014, FoCo Cafe operates as a nonprofit community cafe serving nutritious meals daily from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The name stands for "Feeding Our Community Ourselves."
The organization has served over 144,000 meals since opening, according to nonprofit disclosures. With only five paid employees, the cafe relies on volunteers for daily operations, meal preparation, and events.
Beyond its daily lunch service, FoCo Cafe operates a Kids Feeding Kids Summer Breakfast Program providing free meals and activities for children from low-income families during summer months.
Community members unable to donate turkeys can contribute monetary donations for ingredient costs or pre-order Thanksgiving meals for themselves through the cafe's website. Questions about donations can be directed to [email protected].
The cafe partners with area farms, local businesses, foundations, and civic groups to maintain its operations while prioritizing locally sourced, organic, and sustainably grown ingredients.