Shay Jefferson remembers having her lights off for 32 days while struggling to feed her two children. After experiencing poverty as a single mother, she knew others in Belton, Missouri, were also struggling. That’s when she opened up the Spot, a community cafe providing hot homemade meals to people in need. There are no prices on anything. It’s all pay what you can.
“Having these meals available to me means a lot,” said frequent customer Dawn Thomas. “I’ve learned that it doesn’t matter if you need help, just get it — and [Jefferson] does it in such a way that you keep your dignity and you get what you need.”
The cafe is part of a food pantry set up as a grocery store to remove the shame and stigma that comes with asking for help. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 1 in 8 Missourians are food insecure.
Many Belton customers say their healthy food options are limited and they often have to buy groceries at convenience and dollar stores.
“When you talk about what makes a community great, [it’s about] making sure people have what they need,” Jefferson said. “Hot, nutritious, good food is one of them, and that’s the Spot.”
Learn more about how the Spot was created in the video above. Find out more about the cafe here.
