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Windham Cafe Offers a Free Lunch – Breakfast, Too

March 25, 2009 - WINDHAM -- Who says there's no such thing as a free lunch?

At 8 a.m. Tuesday, the Stone Dog Cafe in Windham will open its doors in a gesture of community support. Free breakfast and lunch will be served until 3 p.m.

Instead of paying a tab, patrons can bring in nonperishable food items, children's clothing or cash donations for the Windham food pantry.

With two kids of his own, Stone Dog owner and head chef Jeff Graham says people need to help each other in these trying times.

"I'm not doing this for free publicity," said the 35-year-old Graham, a Windham resident who bought the eatery in 2003. "I believe in karma."

Though he's well aware that the offer of so-called free food could cause a line to form up and down Route 302, Graham and the rest of the staff are undeterred. Graham believes in "paying it forward" in life. Good deeds have a way of coming back to you.

It's a philosophy Graham experienced firsthand during a recent snowstorm. This winter Bob and Bonnie Merrill, proprietors of Horsepower Auto Care in Windham, showed up at the cafe and did a good deed for their friend and fellow local business owner.

"I couldn't afford new tires for my truck," recalls Graham. "It was during a bad snowstorm. I showed up at the restaurant, and Bob and Bonnie were there having breakfast."

The Merrills informed Graham that they had come in for more than just breakfast. They arrived with a loaner vehicle for Graham and said they wanted to put new tires on his 12-year-old Toyota 4Runner.

Graham resisted, but the Merrills kept on. "They said, 'Jeff, we want you to be safe with the kids in the car,' " said Graham.

The gesture left quite an impression on Graham, especially given the tight margins local business owners are facing during this current recession. So when Graham heard about the increasing needs, especially children's clothing, down at the Windham Food Pantry, his sense of community was called to action. And being a parent, Graham felt it was his turn to give.

"When it comes to children who are dependent on someone else to feed them, we have to help," said Graham. "I want to see kids come through our front door – I want them to ask for Mickey Mouse pancakes."

After the grill cools off, the community fellowship will continue. Windham's own Rick Charette will pull out his guitar and volunteer with a children's concert from 3:30 to 4 p.m.

Graham is excited and so are the staff members who will be donating their time. "Nobody is sponsoring this other than myself," said Graham. "There's no gimmick here."

Usually open at 7 a.m. each day, Stone Dog Cafe will open at 8 a.m. Tuesday with a somewhat limited menu. Graham is not sure of the exact offerings as of yet, but says the fare will be determined by whatever he can get a good buy on running up to the event.

"It's not going to be lobster and clam cakes," said Graham, smiling. "We'll probably have stuff like burgers, soups and bread, and BLTs. But we want folks to come in and get their fill."

And as usual, breakfast will be served all day.

DON PERKINS, www.keepmecurrent.com March 25, 2009


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Regions: Sebago


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