Elizabeth’s story of giving

Danvillian Elizabeth Joiner, a 2022 Centre College graduate currently enrolled at the University of Kentucky’s J. David Rosenberg College of Law, wants to help Grace on the Go get off the ground in a big way…  

“When given the opportunity to donate to a philanthropic cause of my choice, [I wanted] to invest in the same community that had invested in me my entire life. Danville is a one-of-a-kind place that I have been lucky to call home for both my childhood and college years. I believe it is both my duty and the duty of young people living in Danville to recognize the challenges that the community is faced with and provide – even in small ways – what they can to help improve the very place that has invested in and improved them.”

“As a community, I believe that we not only have the means and ability to solve the problem of food insecurity in Danville and Boyle County, but, through the help of organizations like Grace Café, we also have the heart to donate the necessary time, energy, and resources toward facilitating the distribution of nutrient-rich, healthy foods to support our growing community. Grace on the Go seems to be a perfect example of how an organization can learn to evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of their surrounding community. I am grateful to have the opportunity to become involved in Grace Café’s continuing efforts to combat food insecurity, and I look forward to seeing how much they can accomplish as they continue their mission.” 

Breaking News

***Breaking News***: Today, we are the SUPER PROUD new owners of a fantastic food trailer for Grace on the Go! Because of generous donors and organizations believing in our mission to increase food security in Danville-Boyle County by providing access to healthy food on a pay-what-you-can basis, we hit this major milestone. THANK YOU!

We want to give a special shout out to our seller, community partner, and friend - Tyler Greene and his Sunwatch Homestead. Thank you for working with us on this sale and showing your community so much love by partnering. Because of you, Grace on the Go is one MAJOR step closer to opening. We wish you much success with your delicious farm-to-table food at Morley's Backyard! Check 'em out, y'all!

Grace Cafe at One World Everybody Eats Summit

Grace on the Go is not only making plans to become a new fixture of our local community but also has a place in the national conversation about food equity, access, and reducing food insecurity for our most vulnerable populations. Our amazing Executive Director, Jennifer Earle, recently spent time in Milwaukee planning, leading, and speaking at the national conference for One World Everybody Eats - the national organization dedicated to increasing food security and building community through its pay-what-you-can nonprofit restaurant model. OWEE provides a unique local solution to the global issue of hunger. We are so fortunate to be able to share in peer-to-peer learning and modeling as we relaunch into our new, mobile food trailer this year!

1st Annual Pickleball Tournament

Announcing Grace Cafe's inaugural PICKLEBALL tournament fundraiser on Sunday, May 5 at the Bunny Davis courts! Register your doubles team at https://www.gracecafeky.org/pickleball

All proceeds will benefit our Grace on the Go mobile food trailer initiative. A huge shout out to our partner Danville-Boyle Co. Parks and Recreation. We can't wait to see you there!

Tournament Location: Bunny Davis Pickleball Courts, 110 Man-O-War Drive, Danville, KY

If you can't make it in person, we still have a virtual option to support the tournament. Just visit https://www.gracecafeky.org/donate. Thank you!

Spread the Love!

We want to share some exciting news with you. What started as Kentucky’s first community restaurant, previously located in Danville on 4th Street from 2015 to 2020, Grace Café is transforming into something fresh and different. We are reopening as a food trailer this year with the same great mission, only now we’re going mobile!

Grace Café on the Go will aim to increase food security in Danville and Boyle County by providing access to healthy food on a pay-what-you-can basis. A food trailer will give us the ability to serve food with dignity throughout the community, we are hopeful that we will reach more people who are food insecure, including those among us who are most vulnerable and face transportation barriers – children and the elderly.

We live in a very prosperous community, yet many of our neighbors are food insecure. In fact, over 3,500 Boyle County residents are food insecure, which is nearly 12% of the population, according to the latest study from Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap research. Among those who don’t know where their next meal is coming from, nearly 800 are children. To help alleviate this problem, since 2021, Grace Café has been operating a weekly Snack Bag program run by dedicated volunteers for Danville High School students who face food insecurity.

And with your help, we are ready and positioned to do even more.

Through our nonprofit food trailer, Grace Café on the Go will help make fresh, nutritious food more available to folks throughout the area. Aligning with our founding community café model, meals will have a suggested price with a pay-what-you-can option. If one can’t pay for their meal, they can work at the trailer in exchange for it. We believe in a hand-up, not a hand-out, and strive for reciprocity.

The success of our endeavor depends on community support and effective partnerships. Our aim is to create a community where everybody eats and to advance the work of grace for all. Currently, we are in the process of raising $75,000 to purchase our food trailer, outfit it, and acquire the truck to haul it.

We would love for you to partner with us to bring this needed resource to our community. We will be sharing ways you can donate soon. If you would like to give now, please mail your check to our address listed below or visit gracecafeky.org/donate.