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Eat Local, Change Lives: Check Out These Social Enterprise Cafe and Catering Options

Written By Cassie Kelly
04/14/2025

Imagine your daily coffee run fueling more than just your caffeine levels. Picture your event catering not just feeding guests, but empowering lives. In Columbus, a wave of social enterprises –  which are businesses that direct their revenue into a nonprofit mission – are transforming everyday purchases into powerful acts of community support. 

Each dollar you spend at these businesses strengthens the local economy and directly funds vital missions, offering a tangible way to align your values with your spending. As Grace Figliomeni, senior sales and cafe manager for Freedom a la Cart, passionately states, “Our business fuels our workforce development, so with every purchase…you are supporting our mission. It’s a way to make your meals more meaningful.” 

Discover how your next meal can make a real difference with these local cafe and catering options run by members of the Human Service Chamber of Franklin County! 

Blue Bowtie Catering – Godman Guild

Experience more than just delicious food with Blue Bowtie Catering. Your choice supports the Godman Guild’s mission, providing individuals with valuable skills and meaningful employment. Each catered event empowers the community, helping build brighter tomorrows, one person, one family, at a time.

Cafe Overlook – Service! Relief 

373 S High St. Floor 16

Columbus, Ohio 43215

Discover hospitality with a purpose at Cafe Overlook. Enjoy a meal that supports a thriving, equitable service community, or cater your next event with their delicious options. A joint project from Service! Relief for Hospitality Workers and the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, Cafe Overlook is an innovative collaboration between the public and private sectors with a mission to eliminate income insecurity among those working in the service industry. Your patronage provides living wages, essential resources, and pathways to success for those working in the industry. Be a part of creating positive change, high above the city.

Freedom a la Cart Cafe + Bakery + Catering

123 E Spring Street

Columbus, OH 43215

Taste hope and transformation at Freedom a la Cart. Your support provides survivors of human trafficking with refuge and the chance to rebuild their lives. Enjoy delicious food that empowers women with skills and confidence. Your choice creates a path to lasting freedom and self-sufficiency.

LA Catering and Levee Event Center – LifeCare Alliance

670 Harmon Avenue

Columbus, OH 43223

Create memorable events that make a difference with LA Catering and The Levee Event Center. Your celebration supports LifeCare Alliance’s vital mission, providing care and support to seniors and those with disabilities. Enjoy exceptional events that nourish both body and soul, thanks to your support.

MY Community Cafe – MY Project USA

3275 Sullivant Avenue

Columbus, OH 43204

Make every meal an act of kindness at MY Community Cafe. Your support directly nourishes the community’s most vulnerable members. Enjoy delicious Halal cuisine and provide essential meals to children, the elderly, and those in need. Your patronage builds a stronger, more compassionate community.

Purple Door Cafe – Zora’s House

1393 North 4th Street

Columbus, OH 43201

Experience a vibrant space where community and empowerment bloom at Purple Door Cafe. Your visit supports Zora’s House, creating a supportive haven for women+ of color. Be a part of a community that cultivates growth, connection, and thriving futures.

Roosevelt Coffeehouse

300 E Long Street 

Columbus, OH 43215

Make every cup count at Roosevelt Coffeehouse. Your purchase supports the fight against global injustices, providing clean water, combating hunger, and restoring dignity to survivors of human trafficking. Enjoy great coffee and create a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. 

Categories: Social Enterprise, Workforce Development