Kin Coffee Cart and Market, a new Calgary social venture, aims to help address food insecurity by providing access to affordable and quality food and drinks in an inclusive environment.
Kin is a new pay-what-you-want initiative from the Leftovers Foundation that features a coffee cart and small market staffed entirely by volunteers in two YMCA locations. The market rotates between the Saddletowne and Shawnessy YMCA locations, while the coffee cart operates out of Shawnessy YMCA. With Calgary partners like YYC Food Security Fund and Motherlode Coffee Roasters, Kin is helping to create community spaces to gather and connect, regardless of financial situations.
Located in the atrium at Shawnessy YMCA, Kin Coffee Cart is open Monday to Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Serving coffee from Motherlode Coffee, tea, baked goods like Ritual Doughnuts and fruit, all items are pay-what-you-want (suggested prices start at $1, but you are welcome to pay more or less).
Kin Market operates out of Saddletowne YMCA on Mondays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and out of the Shawnessy YMCA on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Kin Market operates on the same pay-what-you-want model as the coffee cart, but with fruits, vegetables and other staples like bread and eggs on sale at suggested prices.
More information on volunteering at Kin Coffee Cart and Market can be found here.
Saddletowne YMCA, 180, 7555 Falconridge Blvd N.E.; Shawnessy YMCA, 400, 333 Shawville Blvd. S.E., weareallkin.ca
