BETHLEHEM, PA. – A cafe in Northampton County is on a mission to reduce food insecurity in the Lehigh Valley.

Essentials Cafe in Bethlehem is a non-profit, pay-what-you-can community cafe, hoping to serve up more than just food.

“We came up with the name ‘Essentials Cafe’, because what is essential in life, right?” said Dana Fenner, Executive Director of Essentials Cafe. “Food is essential.”

The cafe is nestled on the 400 block of Third Avenue in Bethlehem, in a house that Fenner said is the former parsonage of the West Side Moravian Church.

Squashing food insecurity is one goal and the other, to create a warm, welcoming space that feels like home.

“People are essential, community is essential, and love is essential,” said Fenner. “Sometimes we’re hungry for community, for someone to talk to.”

Bethlehem resident Vunguyen said he visits almost every day.

“It’s good for the people, so they get food each day, and so they be healthy,” said Vunguyen.

Volunteer Sharon Friedman grabbed a table with her family.

“This is my brother’s first time here, and he liked the meal,” said Freidman. “[We’re] providing a smile with somebody that might be having a bad day and helping out Fenner with something she’s so passionate about. She eats, drinks, and sleeps the cafe.”

“We have about 4,700 hours a year in volunteer time,” said Fenner. “We have people, neighbors, people from all walks of life who help us. The cafe is run mostly on volunteers. Our food is 98% made from scratch. We have our own gardens out back, and we just think it’s a beautiful community.”

The cafe menu has no set prices and changes weekly, always serving fresh food and drinks, including homemade baked goods, breakfast, and lunch specials.

Customers are given a suggested price for their order. They can contribute any amount they are able and even pay it forward to cover the cost of someone else’s meal.

“It’s just a place where everybody wants to help give back,” said Fenner.

The cafe is open Tuesday through Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.