Jubilee Cafe offers free breakfast to Lawrence community
Alex Moore | @alex_moore04
Jubilee Cafe has been providing free breakfast twice a week for any Lawrence resident for more than 30 years. The cafe serves breakfast every Tuesday and Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. with a wide variety of food options available.
“The origination of Jubilee Cafe, 31 years ago was a group of KU students, and the priest at the Trinity Episcopal Church,” John Krehbiel said, director of Jubilee Cafe.
Trinity Episcopal Church was the original home of the cafe for the first 10 years of the cafe’s existence. After the program outgrew the church, it was forced to relocate to First Church to make sure they would be able to withstand the capacity for years to come.
The cafe was intended as a place for any Lawrence resident to get a free meal. But, it has become a popular spot for the homeless community. With Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits coming to a halt amidst the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, it may see more utilization from the housed community.
“The intention behind it was to be a community breakfast, a free community breakfast,” Grehbiel said. “And it is still categorically that today. There isn’t a sign that says this is only for the unsheltered, or it’s only for the community that is sheltered.”
The cafe has also become a favorite spot for KU students looking for ways to give back to the community and log volunteer hours.
“My favorite part about coming here is just always putting a smile on people’s faces,” KU student volunteer Kaelyn Wells said. “Like they may be coming in early and it’s super early in the morning. It’s kind of a rough day for absolutely anyone. And you come in and greet them with a bowl of cereal and juice and food, and that puts a smile on their face.”
The cafe is always accepting volunteers to help feed the community. To volunteer visit Jubilee Cafe’s website to apply.
