“Priceless” Cafe, “Priceless” Community

1 In Tennessee in the US,/there is a cafe/named ComeUnity Cafe.// The cafe differs from others/because it does not have set prices,/adopting a “Pay-What-You-Can” system.// This means/that customers decide how much they pay,/depending on their financial circumstances and goodwill.//

2 For example,/a person with enough money/might pay 20 dollars for a lunch/worth 11 dollars.// The extra nine dollars becomes a donation/to the cafe.// On the other hand,/a person who cannot afford the lunch/might work in the cafe/as a volunteer.// One-hour of work compensates/for one free meal.// Moreover,/if people work for two hours,/they can wash and dry their clothes/in the laundry room.// This offer helps those/who do not have a washing machine/at home.//

3 ComeUnity Cafe was opened/by Amy Crenshaw in 2013.// She used to be a nurse.// After her marriage,/she devoted herself to raising ten children:/three biological/and seven adopted from China and Ethiopia.// One day,/Crenshaw heard from her oldest daughter/about a cafe in Colorado/with the “Pay-What-You-Can” system.// Inspired by this idea,/she decided to start such a cafe/in her town.// She thought/it was her calling.//

4 Crenshaw’s motto is/“to love, to feed, to dignify.”// With this in mind,/she serves healthy meals to all,/including those who have no money.// For these meals,/she uses organic and seasonal ingredients.// Some of them are products/grown in her garden.// She also often uses fresh vegetables/donated by local farmers and suppliers.// They are great supporters/of what she does.//

5 ComeUnity Cafe has about 50 seats,/and they are always occupied.// As its name shows,/the cafe unites people/who come to the cafe,/regardless of how much money/they have.// ComeUnity Cafe is not only a “priceless” cafe/but also a “priceless” community/for everyone in town.//