Second Harvest, a national network of food banks, started Kids Cafe in 1993 and now feeds children in many of the major metropolitan areas all over the country. Perspectives located in St. Louis Park is host to Kids Cafe which is primarily funded through donations from Foundations, Corporations, local Chefs, and Restaurateurs including the ACFMCC

Kids Cafe is a nutrition and self-esteem program for high risk and homeless youth living in St. Louis Park. The program operates 5 days a week and serves over 55 elementary aged children each day. The program provides mentoring and education around nutrition, as well as teaching the children key team building, leadership and hygiene skills. Kids Cafe served approximately 11,700 meals in 2017.

The Kids Café restaurant style kitchen, is designed as a child-friendly space, was completed in September 1998. Perspectives targets the youth within the local area, including our Supportive Housing Program kids whose parents are struggling to make ends meet. Kids come to this daily after-school program throughout the entire year. The curriculum provides academic enrichment as well as the kitchen experience, utilizing volunteers as mentors to teach and support the children.

The Kids Cafe program serves children a well-balanced home-style evening meal. The program seeks to mentor basic socialization skills, responsibility, contribution, sharing, positive companionship, and healthy decision-making. The uniqueness about the program is that children work together to prepare the meal, set the table and then help clean up afterwards.

This exciting program has a full-time Chef that works with the children to guide and teach them as they prepare, serve, and clean up a nightly dinner. Chef Dan has been with the program for 21 years and is more than happy to answer any questions about the program from his professional experience. You can reach Chef Dan via email at chefdan@perspectives-family.org or by phone (952)-926-2600 ext. 2518.