Beans Cafe Inc

In October I left my full time job and decided to work at Beans Café. I ended up working everyday from 7-12 for two months straight, it was the best experience ever! since then my family and I make it a regular time at least one Saturday of the month and on holidays. The staff is amazing and very welcoming, I have been able to do an array of tasks and learned many skills that I never thought I needed. My teenage children also enjoy it and have learn much from the experience. We are grateful for the opportunity and happy to continue our tradition. I could not imagine doing anything else!

As a volunteer I think the Children's Lunchbox does an exceptional job at providing healthy meals to children in need. Again as a voluren's Lunchbox it would be helpful if they were able to have their knifes sharpened on a regular basis which would make good safer and

I LOVE volunteering for Beans Cafe! Zach does a great job organizing and getting current information out. The time always flies by because everyone is so nice and I feel like I have really helped our community out afterwards.

Our church has been involved with Bean's Café for a while - sending mission teams to serve in the summer, sending our small groups to serve breakfast once a month, or leading a weekly prayer group for the clients. The staff from security, to desk to kitchen is all simply amazing. They love what they do and it shows in their interactions with clients as well as volunteers. Bean's Café has such a positive impact - we truly value them as a member of the Anchorage community.

I volunteer for the children's lunch box. I think they are doing very well. I just wish they had a bigger sign on the building.

A couple of my coworkers and I get to spend every Wednesday morning at Bean's helping walk the floor and spend time with clients. It's amazing to see the compassion that the organization has for the homeless and those who have been knocked down by life. It humbles me and resets my perspective every time I'm there.

I have volunteered for Beans Café, Inc and The Children's Lunchbox many of times, even bringing my children along to assist. Beans Café, Inc has been so helpful in the community and extremely kind and courteous to those that volunteer their time. This place is a staple in the community. The staff is always welcoming, friendly and appreciative.

I regularly volunteer to help serve lunch at Bean's. I look forward to and thoroughly enjoy each visit. The kitchen is well run and organized. I especially enjoy meeting the other volunteers and patrons, who are always very appreciative of my efforts, and helpful to me while there.

Beans workers are amazing helpful and kind. I think they could only improve with additional resources.

I have had the great fortune to serve at Bean’s on two separate mission trips, in March 2016 and in March 2018. It was an absolute blessing. The way that the staff strives to love and serve their clients and all the volunteers was inspiring and wonderful to witness. They incorporated the volunteer workers very effectively, and conducted the kitchen in a professional manner, maintaining a high level of quality in everything they did. The services they provide are also much needed and much appreciated by the local homeless population. I have no complaints, and nothing but respect for the staff. I hope to go back again!

I had the priviledge of working here for a week on a mission trip in March. I was so impressed with the care that the chefs put into the food, and how much they care that it’s done really well and that the kitchen is kept clean. They were so great to the volunteers and made sure that we were taken care of all the time. We were all so excited to go back every day and serve here. I felt safe, cared for, and had an absolute blast serving the clients there. It was so encouraging to see people care so much about those who society doesn’t care for well.

My first time serving with Bean's Cafe was on Christmas Day 2017. I was still new to Anchorage, but I knew that I wanted to serve the hardest hit communities. Bean's Cafe was that avenue for me to make an immediate impact. I hadn't signed up that day, and even though they had a surplus of volunteers already, they took me in. Zach, the volunteer coordinator, is a positive, "can do" type and awesome to work with. But then again, so is everyone at Bean's Cafe. They never waste a second of volunteer time, but they also respect the time blocks that you sign up for. They listen to you when you speak, and are genuinely concerned in your well being like they are with the community that they serve. To boot, they serve food that looks to be top quality even though their tables and seats are completely full. I highly recommend Bean's Cafe to any and all.

My family & a few young friends have helped serve the Thanksgiving & Christmas Dinners that Beans Café serves to hundreds of people needing a helping hand in Anchorage. They do it with a great staff that provides direction & help for the volunteers and keep everything very orderly. We've also helped several times to serve breakfast - it's a great service that is offered to many, many people.

Amazingly well organized opportunity for managing the flow of volunteers, both client volunteers and community volunteers. The cleanliness, efficiency and friendliness of the staff is top notch. Beans fills a community need delivering services with compassion, accountability and practicality.

Wonderful staff running a well organized kitchen putting smiles on peoples faces.

I’ve been volunteering for a number of years during the breakfast meal. It has given me a new perspective on homelessness and people in need. Much different than what I had thought. The Beans staff is caring and compassionate and it shows watching their interactions with clients. My volunteering has caught on at my place of employment and now there is a group from my work that has a set time once a month to volunteer.

I was thoroughly impressed with the gentlemen that helped us deliver lunch to over 350 people. They weren't expecting that many people that day and when we ran out of something, they moved on to plan B, and then plan C when we ran out of that! No one was turned away, and food was not wasted because we had too much out. I definitely would recommend people to volunteer here. I felt welcome and needed. Thanks guys!

I have donated both goods and time (not sure about the talent) to Beans Cafe. It was a wonderful experience, especially the food preparation and the serving of the meals! The staff and chefs are awesome, kind, and very patient. We have since move South, and we just don’t have the same opportunities as Beans Cafe provided to us. Thank you Beans Cafe folk’s for all you do for the community!!!

Thanksgiving Day 2017, my three kids and I decided to volunteer at Bean's Café instead of our normal routine of cooking a ton of food, eating leftovers for a few days, and then throwing away the rest. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience of serving our fellow community members and getting to know some of them and the dedicated staff at Bean's. They were grateful as well and several people went our of their way to thank my kids. But it was us that were thankful on that Thanksgiving Day, much more so than previous holidays. So we'll keep on volunteering and donating, and Bean's you keep doing your thing.

I volunteered to serve lunch with co-workers at Bean's Café. The kitchen was well organized and the food was better than I had anticipated. We served 378 people and the chef said he was only planning to serve around 240. Well, the cooks were prepared! They quickly shifted gears and made extra food. Everyone that came through the line received a meal and a drink. It was an honor to participate in giving back to the community. We had a great time and the guests that were served were courteous and appreciative. There was a group that sang and spoke with the guests. I was thoroughly impressed with the other volunteers and the staff at Bean's Café. We are planning to volunteer again sometime next quarter!

I've volunteered with my office and on my own several times. I love the atmosphere and being able to work with other volunteers and the patrons. The time always goes by quickly because everyone is having a good time and working hard for a good purpose. Can't wait to go again!

I began volunteering at Beans as a part of a college class on non-profits and the environment was very friendly and upbeat. The people working as a part of this organization genuinely care about the people they serve and enjoy their time behind the scenes. I worked with two different chefs as a food prepper and both were hilarious while also producing delicious food. They feed their volunteers and it's a good time while also providing a service to our community.

Volunteering at the Beans' Cafe and the Children's Lunchbox has been very rewarding and easy to do. The team there are so kind and hard-working. I would love to volunteer more to give back to the community. Their work is beneficial for the community members who are not homed. Thank you for your hard work!

As a kid, my mom and I used to drop off leftover food to Bean's Café from spaghetti dinners and other school functions. The simple idea that those of us who have extra resources should lend a hand has stuck with me as I have grown up. Now I have volunteered both in the Bean's Café kitchen and admin offices. The staff are incredibly hard workers and they treat everyone - donors, volunteers, and clients alike - with dignity and respect. A fun place to volunteer and an extremely important need in our community.

Beans Cafe tries so hard to provide for those less fortunate and in need. They are truly making a difference in the Anchorage community. From great staff to wonderful volunteers, Beans Cafe has always found a way to care and provide to those better than any organization I have ever seen. Thank you to all of you who work so hard everyday to make a change for the better for all of those who cannot do it themselves!

From providing us with willing workers when our employees don't show up for work (some remain on as permanent employees) to thinking up creative ways (like the Empty Bowl Project) to involve so many facets of our community to lend a helping hand. Beans is a vital part of my community and will always hold a special place in my heart.

Beans Cafe does more for the Anchorage community as a whole because it will use all means possible to ensure all of its clients have the best possible food, care and essentials. They offer care and meals to a very diverse population and perform above and beyond for the recipients.

NEED TO PAID MININUM WAGES FOR WORKERS. VOUCHERS OR OTHER BENEFITS CAN USEFUL. UNCLE VINNIE FOR US.

I started volunteering with Beans Cafe in 2009 in the kitchen. The kitchen staff has been wonderful to work with and they genuinely care about the food that they prepare for the people in need. I try to help out whenever I get an opportunity. Most recently, I had the opportunity to work in the office. Ken Miller and the WONDERFUL ladies who work in the office are always working to raise funds for the cause. They are always very appreciative of all the help given to Beans Cafe. I loved every moment working with them. The Pour was great. Looking forward to volunteering with them again.

I have been a homeless client of Beans Cafe. The food and care they provided for me was all I needed to get back on my feet. I now work here as an employee and am happy for the opportunity to give to my community.

Bean's Cafe is fantastic! They are well organized and effective. They do so much more than serve good to Anchorage-area folks in need...they have creative programs like that foot care program to give new clean socks and footwear and therapuetic foot massage and health treatment in the winter time, when Anchorage homeless are in desparate need of warm, dry clothing and attention to their feet. Bean's does amazing fundraisers that promote education and awareness in addition to raising financial support for their services. I particularly appreciate their attitude toward helping others...they do not look down on anyone or try to judge people against a moral standard. They don't discriminate, and they try to care for people while also empowering them.

Beans Cafe is my favorite place to donate and I hope to get the opportunity to work with them as a volunteer in the near future. For me there is nothing like a direct contribution to the community. These guys do a great service to the community and I know that all of my donation is being put to good use!

Bean's Cafe has that rare combination of an amazing and selfless staff, a committed Board of Directors, generous in both time and treasure, and a deep pool of volunteers quick to respond when help is needed. Bean's Cafe enjoys a community which (largely) supports the mission of Bean's, as demonstrated by the hundreds of turkeys and side dishes donated for Bean's annual Thanksgiving feast. While still thought of as a soup kitchen for the homeless, today's reality is somewhat different. Many of Bean's clients are Alaska's working poor, struggling to keep a roof over their heads, their kids in school and hunger from their doorstep. Bean's mission has broadened in recent years. Bean's now serves an overflow shelter when temperatures plunge and our neighbor, The Brother Francis Shelter's demand exceeds its capacity. Bean's "The Children's Lunchbox" has a mission of 'feeding hungry kids in a safe community environment!". Children's Lunchbox has served nearly 240,000 meals to hungry kids in 2012, up from less than 100,000 in 2010. To learn more about Bean's Cafe and its programs, visit beans cafe.org and thechildrenslunchbox.org. While you're there, why not "Donate Online". Thanks.

I have served as a board memberwith Bean's Cafe for over 30 years' ,starting in the late 1970's when it occupied a small warehousey fronting on an alley. We served hot food with coffee made by re-brewing used coffee grounds from a local hotel. With the support of many people, we moved in 1985 to our present building at 3rd & Karluk, with a wonderful commercial kitchen that produces high-quality nutritious meals and consistently receives the highest health inspection ratings. When I first joined the board, Bean's was not yet a member of United Way.. I have seen it grow to a highly rated United Way agency , blessed with broad community support. Our mission remains the same-- to provide hot meals and warm day shelter to homeless people . The need is enormous and we are now serving many people who are not chronically homeless, but who have been affected by job losses in the present economy. Through Children's Lunchbox, a program of Bean's Cafe, we are now also serving nutritious meals to needy children at numerous sites around Anchorage. All this is possilble because we continue to be blessed with generous community support. Our mission remains the same -- to serve the hungry and the homeless 365 days a year, Our underlying premise, as always, is a deep belief in the dignity of every person and a dedication to treaing all out clients with kindness and respect. I am excited and proud to serve on tghe board of this wonderful organization which makes such a difference in many peoples' lives. Abbe Dunning-Newbury

I have had several opportunities to volunteer with Beans Cafe in Anchorage, Alaska, so have had a close-up view of their staff and operations. They provide meals, resources, and some health care opportunities for people without homes in Anchorage, an environment much more of a challenge for homeless persons than where I came from in Southern California. Beans staff do an excellent job of advertising opportunities to assist them and then coordinating the event, whether it is working in their kitchen or helping sell item at a grocery store or fair to raise funds for the kitchen. They have collaborated with artists in the area for years on an annual fundraising event, the "Empty Bowl", where local artists contribute pottery art, mainly bowls, and attendees buy tickets to compete for the best artwork. All of these efforts make Bean's Cafe universally recognized in the community and a successful and ongoing resource for many of those in greatest need in our area. The most inspirational moments I have had that demonstrate the positive effects of Beans Cafe is when I have been at a venue selling items to raise money and am approached by someone who tells me "I used to eat at Beans. I'm making it on my own now. I'd like to make a donation."

Beans Café is a great help to the community, they provide a place for the homeless, no matter what their situation, to acquire the most essential needs. The amazing part is that they do not pick and choose when they do this or who they will help; they have dedicated themselves 365 days a year to anyone that walks through the door in need. The staff and even their families as well as others from the community spend an immense amount of time helping these people. It is the personal sacrifices the team is willing to make that are so amazing. Even on Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Years they spend time away from their homes making others more comfortable and spreading joy. They are an inspiration for everyone to stop and take a look at what we each do to help the less fortunate. The events they hold to raise funds so that they can accomplish their mission, which is “to feed the hungry and shelter the homeless without discrimination during the day,” are always enjoyable and they allow the community as a whole to participate in solving one of Anchorages most unfortunate problems. A perfect example is the Empty Bowl, there are thousands of community members that attend and join the fight against hunger. This one event helps feed, clothes, warm, and provides countless other services to hundreds of homeless people.
Beans Café takes it a step further than just feeding the homeless. They work to place the homeless in a home they can call theirs, they fight for jobs for those that need employment, provide transportation, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, legal help, medical help and they help to educate those that want it. Beans Café’s dedication to this community is undeniable and incredible. This should make everyone stop and think “What can I do or what can my company do to help Beans Café continue the amazing work they do.”

The staff & volunteers at Beans Cafe make a tremendous difference in our community. As a board member I'm very proud to be involved with is organization! TOGETHER WE ALL CAN MAKE DIFFERENCE. Kim Frensley

“Any organization that serves over 313,000 free meals and provides over 35,000 medical items in one year is a monumental support to society, but Bean’s Café goes above and beyond those outstanding numbers. They’re more than just a soup kitchen; Bean’s Café actively assists those who need it with help finding jobs, medical care, housing and more. They are trusted community partners, a resource for those who need help with the most basic human necessities and a valuable asset to Alaskans – especially Alaskans in need. Credit Union 1’s partnership with this crucial non-profit has been beneficial for over a decade and we fully support them in their mission by hosting annual fundraising events like “Pour,” helping to promote and advertise for “The Empty Bowl,” and incorporating them into events like the Mountain View Street Fair whenever possible because we believe in what they do. This is a great non-profit organization and others would benefit from following their model to support their communities.”

I wasn't always a board member at Bean's Cafe. Although I recently moved into a new job, I spent the last decade as a journalist in Anchorage. For years I covered Bean's cafe in the news. Mostly the good the organization was doing for the homeless community in our city. In recent years however I continually found myself reaching out to Bean's as several members of the homeless community were dying on our streets. Bean's and director Jim Crockett were always there to offer insight into the death, or even humanize the person who had passed away. It's easy to forget that homeless people have families too and stories and lives that matter. Jim made sure the public knew who the "homeless person" really was.

When the issue came to a head in the last year, our station decided to host a Town Hall on the issue and asked Jim if we could use Bean's Cafe for the live televised event. Of course he agreed and we had an extrememly successful event. But perhaps most importantly, it wasn't a room filled with lawmakers and politicians, but a room filled with people who think of Bean's as their home. They offered important and essential insight into what was happening.

When I left television a few months ago, there was no question which organization would join as a board member and I expressed as much to Jim. Not only was I committed to the mission, but as someone whose family had once faced significant financial difficulties and was forced out fo home, it is a mission near and dear to my heart.

I am now a board member and learning so much more about Bean's. I had volunteered in the kitchen several times through my church, but now I get to see a new side of Beans.

The mission is simple "Feed the hungry and shelter the homeless without discrimination during the day."

But by doing that each day Bean's offers members of the homeless community they don't get anywhere else: respect and dignity. That is perhaps the geatest gift of Bean's.

I think that Bean's is working to become more tech savy and use the web to its advantage. I agree we need some younger members on the board. Also, as funding for other non-profits gets tight, we should look to strategic partnerships to leverage opportunities for growth.

As a new board member, I hesitate to offer too many suggestions as I am still learning about the internal workings of theorganization. So far, I have been impressed with Bean's board.