White Plains coffee shop pours dollars into local charities
The Pamplemousse Project, which opened on Mamaroneck Avenue late last year, turns 100% of the money it earns above operating costs to charity.
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A White Plains cafe is donating $10,500 to three local nonprofits as part of its mission to be "coffee for the community."
The Pamplemousse Project, which opened on Mamaroneck Avenue late last year, turns 100% of the money it earns above operating costs to charity.
Gary Kris and his wife Lydia came up with the idea for the business while volunteering at a food pantry in White Plains.
"These nonprofits' resources have never been strained more and the need has never been greater," said Gary Kris, co-owner of The Pamplemousse Project.
Each quarter, the owners ask customers to decide which of the nonprofits that applied for a grant should receive one.
"The people who are spending their money in the cafe should decide where it goes," said Kris.
The three recipients this quarter are Buddy's Healing Paws in New Rochelle so pets can receive lifesaving medical procedures, Interfaith Emergency Food Pantry in Pleasantville to help low-income refugees and immigrants get food, clothing, and language classes and My Sister's Place to assist clients facing domestic violence.
"It's great to support kind of a mission-driven business and to know that the money I spend here does some kind of good," said customer Chris Villanueva.
This is the cafe's second round of grants since opening in December 2022 bringing its total amount donated to $21,000 in nine months.
"This is really early and the need is massive so we're only kind of touching the edges and we want to do more," said Kris.
Organizations can apply for grants on the cafe's website.
A celebration of this quarter's grant recipients will be held on Thursday, Sept. 14at 9 a.m. at The Pamplemousse Project located at 124 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains.
