Dear Tasha and the Board of Directors,
Times are difficult. Not only do you find The Depot with increased usage requirements by the community, but also dwindling resources. This collective crisis has forced you to do several things in the past 12 months which are not consistent with the operating of an emergency food service: dropping service days for RestoCafé from 4 to 3 days/week and recently, charging every diner a minimum donation of $2/meal.
I believe that difficult times require the use of imagination in providing alternative means to adequately service the community. This is one such time. I suggest to you that the RestoCafé undergoes a complete facelift - to one where it is called Seb & Natasha's Soul Kitchen - operated by The Depot - but managed by chef Seb Britton along with local amazing chef Natasha Jowata. My suggestion is that it become a pay-what-you-can full service restaurant - operational 6 days/week at lunch and dinner (Monday-Saturday - 10:30am-1:30pm and 5:00pm-8:00pm).
Having been a successful full service restaurant in the past, RestoCafé is more than capable in both the kitchen and dining area sense. I would very much like to keep the bandstand area clear of table(s) - and to use it in most hours of operation for benefit concerts by local area musicians - particularly in the evenings. My expectation is that we could easily get between 12 and 18 musicians to rotate on a bi or tri weekly basis.
What this will do for the community is to ensure that those who have nothing to give can get a free meal - and at the same time - many who have more than sufficient will pay not only the menu prices, but even more. This follows successful offerings by Jon Bon Jovi along this line: JBJ's Soul Kitchens.
In addition to this - I not only suggest - but offer my services to assist The Depot in financing this project - through a widespread campaign aimed at generating hundreds of thousands of dollars for the cause - from private households in the vicinity, businesses, corporations - along with governments. My hope and belief is that this initiative will not only be self-sufficient - but that also there will be excess revenues which will assist The Depot to carry out and further its mission.
I look forward to hearing from you and to working towards changing The Depot's offering in this area to something which significantly improves your outreach efforts.
Please read and share my blogpost on this subject: An Idea Whose Time Has Come.
All my love,
