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New Cafe Helps Homeless Teens

by KREX News Room
by Taylor Kanost

Story Created: Feb 15, 2013 at 7:14 PM MDT

Story Updated: Feb 15, 2013 at 7:14 PM MDT

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo - A new vegetarian cafe focused on assisting homeless teens opened its doors this morning.

Owner Alex Mackey partnered with members of Karis, a local non-profit organization, to make Cafe V a reality.

"Karis is deeply invested in helping teens become self-sufficient so I felt this was a natural fit for us," said Karis board member Cary Eidsness.

Cafe V provides over 100 hours of weekly employment to homeless teens from The House, the Western Slope's only shelter for homeless teens.

Karis operates The House, and is excited about this new opportunity for their teens.

"We have teens that are working here, and those dollars, that employment and the job experience is just a huge plus for them," said Karis executive director John Mok-Lamme. "This is clearly a game changer for us."

The restaurant, located on 5th and Belford, opened in style by holding a hurdling race between Mackey and CMU hurdler J.J. Johnson.

Mok-Lamme said the hurdles in the race represent the hurdles homeless teens encounter.

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Richard Crespin (my real name) said on Monday, Feb 18 at 1:05 AM

Wow! What a GREAT place. Helping our community one step at a time and providing those without housing an INCOME! At last, somebody has their head screwed on straight! I support Cafe V and The "House" and commend them for all of their hard work! Keep it up. Not only does our community need more people/programs like this, but I believe EVERY community, big or small, would prosper from programs alike. I would rather see my tax dollars go towards programs like "the House" than to a corporate funded war or bailing out banks. STAY LOCAL.

Glad they opened said on Saturday, Feb 16 at 1:36 PM

Good on you I totally agree!!! We need more programs like this in the community

GOOD ON YOU said on Saturday, Feb 16 at 12:53 PM

I'D RATHER MY TAX DOLLARS GO TO THIS THAN TO ANY OF THE ILLEGAL WARS OBAMA HAS GOT US INTO

Anonymous said on Saturday, Feb 16 at 11:05 AM

And the forms for millions in gov grants are already filled out. In a parallel to the old phrase encompassing us now, fascism will wrap itself in an American flag, these 'selfless', 'alteristic' people attempting to help the homeless teens have no problem taking money the gov has stolen at gunpoint from a producing taxpayer.

Hungry said on Friday, Feb 15 at 11:37 PM

Can I get a triple cheese burger with an order of onion rings?

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