When construction is completed this summer, the Family YMCA of Marion & Polk Counties will house more than just exercise equipment and meeting rooms. Staff members hope it will be a home, for all members of the community.
“I heard a member of our staff describe it beautifully: the Salem Room. And I love that: that when you walk in, you feel a sense of hospitality and belonging,” described Jessica Otjen, YMCA Director of Resource Development. “I hope it becomes a warm, welcoming, and inviting place where people of all ages can spend time together and connect.”
And like any home, food will be at the heart of the YMCA. Thanks to an unprecedented collaboration with IKE Box and Fresh n’ Local Foods, the east wing of the new building will feature Thrive Healthy Kitchen, a family-friendly cafe open to the public.
“We know that food is about building relationships and breaking down barriers,” said Tim Sinatra, executive director of the YMCA. When the original plans for a commercial kitchen were modified to make way for more space for early education programs, Sinatra urged community partners to be creative.
Evann Remington, executive director of Fresh n’ Local Foods, eagerly seized the opportunity. Remington and her team make and distribute healthy school meals throughout the Northwest. When schools closed due to COVID-19, Remington began looking for a new market to leverage her team’s expertise and distribution channels.
“[Tim Sinatra] and I have a long-standing working relationship,” she explained. “So I called him and said, ‘Hey, what if I respond to this RFP but don’t include any of the things you’re asking for?’ And that was the proposal… What if we did something more flexible in that space: something with self-checkout, grab-and-go, and a small footprint?
The idea was just what Sinatra needed for a flexible, multigenerational gathering space. It was important to the YMCA team that the café could serve different community groups and needs at different times of the day. “In the morning, it could be like a senior community gathering with their friends to socialize over coffee or tea and snacks,” Otjen explained. “And then throughout the day, there could be homeschooling families or members of the business community who want to come connect at one of our workstations… And then at 2:30 or 3:00, that room would transform into a teen space.”
Remington and her team have pledged to fill a series of cold refrigeration cases with a variety of grab-and-go items for every palate and pocketbook. Busy patrons will have the opportunity to choose an item and pay at a self-serve kiosk, simply swiping their card as they exit.
For those who want to stay and enjoy a more traditional coffee shop experience, a full-service coffee bar (owned and operated by IKE Box and Isaac’s Room founders Mark and Tiffany Bulgin) will offer handcrafted drinks and treats.
The microcafé will be a new initiative for the three organizations involved, but it fits seamlessly into their community missions. Therefore, Sinatra has offered to cover the initial investment for the equipment and will not charge rent.
“The one thing I will tell them is, ‘Come and do great work. Make it affordable for the community. Make it quality. And at the end of each quarter, after covering your costs and the associated margin you need, if you have anything left over, donate it to the YMCA,'” Sinatra explained.
This unique business model requires trust and a deep desire to contribute to a person’s whole health, both physical and mental. People need a safe space to gather and socially enrich themselves, as well as healthy food to fuel their bodies. Seeing the potential of the café, PacificSource has also contributed as a financial partner.
Remington states, “It’s about eating well, living well, and exercising. It’s about social communities, mental health; it’s about everything that happens in that YMCA building.” Nutrition is just one part of a holistic approach to wellness.”
To be one of the first Thrive Healthy Kitchen customers when the new building opens, visit the YMCA website. (www.theyonline.org) for the latest updates and information.
