If you need a meal, for whatever reason, Rachel Fair wants you to know there’s one waiting for you at Brunch Box. No questions asked.
The owner of the vegan bakery and café, located at 211 E. Walnut St. downtown, launched the Have A Bite Give A Bite program Jan. 25, allowing diners to pay it forward, purchasing food to be given away to someone in need. The first donation happened in less than 24 hours, and five total donations were posted in the first week.
“It’s really exciting to see people being generous and wanting to give,” Fair said. “It really warms my heart to see that, but what I really want to see is people coming and taking the tickets. The community that supports us and supports this restaurant and space is amazing. They’re so giving and kind and loving, and it doesn’t surprise me that the board’s already nearly full. What I am worried about is the word getting out so people know they can come and take advantage of this.”
Those getting free meals treated ‘just like any other customer'
The process is simple. Customers order items they would like to donate from Brunch Box’s menu and a separate ticket is printed out. That ticket is pinned to the Have A Bite Give A Bite board near the restaurant’s bakery case.
Those in need of a meal choose a ticket from the board and take it to the register.
“It goes to the kitchen and we’ll prepare it and serve it out, just like for any other customer,” Fair said.
Brunch Box serves several breakfast sandwiches, served on everything from biscuits and ciabatta bread to croissants and griddle cakes. Breakfast tacos, quesadillas and burritos are also on the menu, along with pastries and coffee drinks. Entrees range in price from $7-$9. A la carte options include biscuits and gravy, hash browns, breakfast potatoes, fruit cups and chia pudding with berry compote. Everything is 100% vegan.
Program a longtime goal for Fair
The launch of Have A Bite Give A Bite has been a long time coming for Fair, who had previously run a vegan bakery, called Whipped Cream & Other Delights, out of her home. That bakery earned her a Springfield Rising Star recognition from Feast Magazine in 2021.
“We had one day a week where we were open, and it was grab-and-go and nobody was allowed in,” she said. “When we were doing that I read an article about a restaurant in the United Kingdom that was doing a program like this, where they had a board and tickets put up and people could grab tickets for a meal, and I just knew that that was something I wanted to do.”
She also knew it wasn’t feasible in that location. She needed a brick-and-mortar restaurant. That happened in July 2023, when Brunch Box opened the space it shares with vegan-friendly ice cream shop Sweet EMOtion.
“It took so long to get this place open,” Fair said. “But once we got open, got our feet on the ground and kind of got stable I was like, ‘Alright, I want to do this. I’ve been waiting years to do this. I’m ready.’ So we put the board together, printed out those signs for it and made the post (on social media). So far the response has been really positive.”
Reducing the stigma around accepting help
Fair understands struggle. In the post announcing Have A Bite Give A Bite, she discussed growing up on the free lunch program. It was fine until high school, when she became too embarrassed to stand in that line.
“Most days I went without lunch until I got my first job and finally could afford to buy my own lunch,” Fair wrote.
She hopes this program will help lessen the stigma around need.
“I just see a lot of people who talk about struggling and having a hard time making ends meet,” Fair said. “I know for us, opening a restaurant was a very expensive and challenging thing to do. My family has enough money to pay our bills, pay our rent, keep this place running, but really not a lot (of money) to go out and dine out.
“I know a lot of people are in that situation, where they’re living paycheck to paycheck, they’re barely making ends meet for what they need and there’s nothing left over for dining out. I know that food scarcity is a real problem and I just hope that people don’t feel the stigma around taking advantage of programs like this and just feel comfortable to come in and grab a ticket. … That’s what I hope to foster, is people not feeling ashamed about situations that most of the time they had nothing to do with and can’t help. Everybody that I know is working really hard and sometimes it’s just not enough.”
Fair also wants all customers to know there is no judgment when it comes to taking a ticket. It doesn’t matter to her what they’re wearing or their life’s circumstances. Sometimes people just need a little help and all are welcome.
“I would even like people who are curious about vegan food but don’t want to shell out the money to try it and see if they like it,” Fair said. “Come get a meal for free, try it and see if you like it. And if so, come back and be a customer. If anybody walks in here and feels comfortable taking a ticket, they’re welcome and we’ll all celebrate and be so happy.”
Getting the word out to Springfield diners
As of Jan. 31, no one has claimed a ticket from the board, so Fair is working to spread the word about Have A Bite Give A Bite to homeless shelters, college students and anyone else who might need a meal. She is also looking forward to the first donated food she serves.
“The first time we get a ticket turned in, I might cry. That will be great,” she said.
