FoCo Cafe opened on Thanksgiving Day in 2014. But that is not where the journey began. The co-founders, Jeff and Kathleen Baumgardner, began working to open the Cafe in 2012.

FoCo Cafe was incorporated in the State of Colorado on June 10, 2012. The first donation was an ice machine in that same month. People continued to donate kitchen equipment and within months their garage was full of supplies. It took 2 1/2 years from concept to opening the doors of the Cafe, but through community support, hard work and a few miracles, the Cafe opened with no debt.

Here is a basic timeline of FoCo Cafe’s journey to 70,000 meals:

• June 10, 2012 – Feeding Our Community Ourselves, Inc. is incorporated in Colorado
• July 26, 2012 – Cafe received its first grant from the Food Chain Workers Alliance
• November 2, 2012 – First pop up event – Face of the Food Chain Photo Exhibit
• July 21, 2013 – FoCo Cafe’s
• Throughout 2013 – The search is on for FoCo Cafe’s location
• August 6, 2014 – Lease is signed for 225 Maple Street and deconstruction begins
• November 27, 2014 –FoCo Cafe Opens on Thanksgiving 2014
• June 8, 2015 – Ribbon cutting and grand opening of the Cafe box gardens
• June 15, 2015 – Cafe offers series of creativity classes
• February 15, 2016 – The Giving Tree is launched
• June 1, 2016 – Pilot of Kids Feeding Kids Summer Family Breakfast Program kicks off
• August 12, 2016 – FoCo Freedge is launched
• September 30, 2016 – FoCo Cafe presents at TedX PeachTree
• November 18, 2016 – Release of FoCo Cafe Garden and Recipe Book
• November 23, 2016 – Kindness Cupboard opens at FoCo Cafe
• November 27, 2016 (Thanksgiving) – Most community members served in one day at 144
• 50,000th meal served – March 7, 2016
• April 17, 2018 – FoCo Cafe’s Little Outdoor Library was introduced
• May 31, 2017- kick off our our second year of the Kids Feeding Kids Summer Family Breakfast Program
• July 23, 2017- FoCo Cafe’s 5th annual Bike-In Music Festival @ Shire CSA
• July 31, 2017 – Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and introduction of the FoCo Cafe Hydration Station.
• August 1, 2017 – Co-founders Jeff and Kathleen Baumgardner passed on the Cafe to new leadership
• November 23, 2017 – Thanksgiving Day 2017- FoCo Cafe’s Third Anniversary
• December 5, 2017 – FoCo Cafe’s 5^th annual Party with A Purpose at Odell’s Brewing Co.
• December 14, 2017 – FoCo Cafe introduces Doug Schwartz, to the FoCo Cafe team as Cafe Chef.
• December 22, 2017 – FoCo Cafe’s special holiday meal- serving 135 meals in 3 hours
• February 1, 2018 – FoCo Cafe introduces new volunteer opportunities to help with serving lunch and move closer to long term sustainability.
• February 17, 2018 – FoCo Cafe’s new Giving Tree is introduced offering more space but the same heart-warming concept.
• March 5, 2018 – 70,000^th meal served at FoCo Cafe!

There is so much more to come, We can’t wait to celebrate many more meals with the community!

Friday, May 5, 2017
First film begins at 6:00 pm
Behavioral Sciences Building A101, Colorado State University
Long-format Documentary: Starfish Throwers

This film festival will showcase one long-format documentary while also highlighting local short films and photographs about food insecurity and poverty in the Fort Collins community. Sponsored by the FoCo Cafe, the festival is intended to bring together community members and the network of food insecurity organizations that tackle issues in the Fort Collins community. Additionally, the festival aims to raise awareness about food insecurity, food justice, poverty, homelessness, food equality, access to healthy eating, etc. There will be a panel discussion following the showing of the films featuring representatives from local hunger and poverty prevention organizations.

A local short film/photo from each of four categories will be chosen to be shown at the film festival event on May 5th. Several submissions to the photography category will also be printed for the event.

SHORT FILM ENTRY DATES & DEADLINES:

Entry Opening Date: March 10, 2017

Entry Deadline: Submission Deadline: April 23, 2017

Notification Date: May 5th, 2017

Event Date: May 5th, 2017

CONTEST CATEGORIES

• Youth: Grades 5-12, no fee to submit, Film/Video, under 8 minutes, all projects may be submitted, Project Origin: Fort Collins,
• College: Students currently enrolled in college at Front Range Community College, CSU, CU, and UNC, No fee to submit, Film/Video, under 8 minutes, only student projects may be submitted, Project Origin: Colorado
• Community: Any members of the Fort Collins, or larger Northern Colorado community passionate about film or food insecurity, no fee to submit, Film/Video, under 8 minutes, all projects may be submitted, Project Origin: Colorado
• Photography: Artists of any age are welcome in this category. Simply capture these issues in a photograph of a high resolution JPEG and submit, Project Origin: Fort Collins

Awards & Prizes: Awards and prizes from local businesses will be given to the winners of each category. The winner of the photography category will have their photo framed. Prize details will be available at a later date.

Rules & Terms: There are four categories of submission:

• YOUTH
• COLLEGE
• COMMUNITY
• PHOTOGRAPHY

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

• Address the issue of food insecurity in our community. This includes (but is not limited to) the people it impacts, hunger, nutrition, poverty, homelessness, food equality, healthy eating, etc.
• Be 3-8 minutes long
• Be an original work
• Be available for showing and use by the FoCo Cafe and Swipe Out Hunger?
• Photo entries must be high resolution, JPEG files
• Be submitted by April 23 at 11:59 pm
• Submit your entry by clicking on the FilmFreeway button

CONTACT & VENUE INFORMATION:

Sponsor Website: http://fococafe.org/

Email: info@fococafe.org

Phone: 309-368-1659

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/takeactionfilmfest/

Event Venue: Behavioral Sciences Building A101, Colorado State University

 

Festival Organizers:

• Kathleen Baumgardner, FoCo Cafe Executive Director
• Mallory Andrews, Volunteer Coordinator
• Abby Jordan, Festival Organizer
• Lindsay Paricio, Festival Organizer
• Haley Chatwin, Festival Organizer

BECOME A FILM FESTIVAL SPONSOR

Please help bring this important event to Fort Collins. You, your company, or your organization are welcome to join us in sponsoring this event! Get sponsorship info here.

Click the Colorado Gives button to donate:

Click button below for more details about the party:
Party Information

NoCo Rugby and FoCo Cafe
are tackling hunger together!

Join us for a semi-formal (pink tie recommended) night of great company with the NoCo Rugby Flamingos for a great cause! Proceeds will benefit FoCo Cafe and be used to purchase ingredients to serve the community healthy meals during the upcoming holidays.

$10 admission at the door includes dinner and two wines, wells, or drafts. Doors open at 6:00, auction commence about 8:00, so come early for dinner, and stay to bid on the fabulous selection of donated items just in time for the holidays!

Where: WASHINGTON’S SPORTS BAR AND GRILL in Fort Collins, Colorado
Date: Saturday, December 6
Time: 6:00pm

Local business who have kindly made donations already:
*Academy Mortgage
*Advanced Direct Marketing
*Barcelona Salon
*Cactus Grille
*East Moon Asian Bistro
*Jax Fish House
*Krash Electronic Repairs
*Platinum One Real Estate
*NoCo Rugby
*PBR
*Rustic Oven
*The Kitchen
*U Realty
*Van Works
*Washington’s
*Xanadu Med Spa
*Zanzibar Spa
*Zquila
…And MANY, MANY MORE!!

Thank you to the NoCo Rugby Flamingos and Washington’s for making this event possible!

Come Wrap Up Colorado Gives Day With Us at a Celebration Party!

Make a gift through Colorado Gives Day to FoCo Cafe and bring your receipt to gain admission to the party:

Party with a Purpose
Tuesday, December 9
7:00-9:00 pm
Odell Brewing Company
800 E. Lincoln Avenue

FoCo Cafe and Trees, Water & People are hosting this party together with great music, beer and food.Join us for the celebration!