MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, Mich. — The Us Café is doubling as a community hub and gathering space, and whether you stop inside or not, they’re helping people right outside their front door.
Kaja Thornton is The Us Café owner. She told 13 ON YOUR SIDE, “We took the us out of business and made it a place for us.”
It’s been up and running since the start of the pandemic.
“We’re a hub space for Muskegon Heights. You can come and get all types of resources,” she said.
The business is constantly adding new ways to serve the community like with the Loaves & Fishes Pantry.
Thornton explains that you “take what you need. Leave what you can.”
It’s an idea that came from another company offering a similar service.
“Access Health had an extra pantry in their storage that they weren’t using. It was just sitting there and that was God saying that it was needed here in Muskegon Heights on the corner of Barney and Maffett,” said Thornton. It fills a need that’s unique to The Heights. “If you know, Muskegon Heights is a 4x4 food apartheid. There are no grocery stores in Muskegon Heights.”
“So, if you have maybe a can of tomato paste and you need a can of cream of mushroom soup, you leave yours and take another. You can place unexpired food, hygiene, paper items inside the mini pantry. Bags of toothpaste, toothbrushes, personal items for feminine hygiene, deodorant, those types of things as well,” Thornton said demonstrating the ease of use of the pantry.
“You name it, you think of it, we, as men, we need it as well: lotion, toothpaste, combs, brushes, razors, shave cream, underwear, all of those types of things,” said Jeff Walker, the founder of Men of Recovery Evolving (M.O.R.E), a nonprofit supporting men who have survived trauma.
“As men come and they see that someone is taking an interest and taking a care in how they present themselves, they will have a better outlook,” he said.
These efforts take a village and that they have. The Covenant Community Church next door provides a produce stand, pulling fresh fruits and vegetables from the neighborhood community garden.
“Kids Food Basket, they bring bags of food for the children. Now that it’s summertime, you know they’re not getting off those buses and we leave a cooler outside all night for those children and people in the community to grab a bag of food,” said Thornton.
The Muskegon County Bicycling Coalition has added an extra stop to their route.
“They ride their bikes with a little trailer behind full of items to stock our pantry every week,” said Thornton.
“It’s not always about what you can get out of something. It’s always about what you can provide for someone else,” said Walker.
Thornton encourages others to find ways to contribute, and said, “If you have a passion project, if you’re working with others and your co-workers – ‘I’ve got a bunch of stuff, let’s get a box together and bring it.’”
She added, “We’re right here on the corner of Barney and Maffett just trying to be a beacon of light right here in Muskegon Heights.”
The pantry has been operating for almost two years now, but Thornton said she’s worried not enough people know about this necessary resource.