~ Welcome to the Common Good Community ~
"Food for the Soul, Fearless Optimism in a Bowl"
The Common Good Soup Kitchen is a non-profit organization made up of an all-volunteer group dedicated to promoting health, nutrition, and community among the residents of Mount Desert Island. Located on the “quiet side” of the island, The Common Good Community offers a by-donation café in the summer that funds community meals and events in the winter.
The Common Good Kitchen program started in the winter of 2009 when Chef Bill Morrison of Southwest Harbor began delivering free soups and salads to the local senior citizen apartment complex and then to others in need of a bit of extra sustenance. The soups focused on whole grains, organic vegetables and the harvest of local seas. Winters are economically difficult here, the weather is often challenging and conditions isolating in a community that numbers less than 2,000 souls each in Southwest Harbor and Tremont, the two towns on this side of the island.
Bill saw this effort right from the start as an injection of "fearless optimism" into the winter months, a program that would eventually bring community together to feed, mind, body and soul. A home base for the program was obtained that summer through the support of Dave and Vickie Lloyd, owners of the Seawall Motel and of the adjacent building overlooking the Atlantic Ocean that once housed Annaebelle's Seawall Dining Room.
Bill saw this effort right from the start as an injection of "fearless optimism" into the winter months, a program that would eventually bring community together to feed, mind, body and soul. A home base for the program was obtained that summer through the support of Dave and Vickie Lloyd, owners of the Seawall Motel and of the adjacent building overlooking the Atlantic Ocean that once housed Annaebelle's Seawall Dining Room.
In the first season of operation the Common Good held noontime community events from November through April and Cabin Fever Family Saturday Nights from January through March. All events feature a festive atmosphere that included live music and a wonderful array of food. The total attendance was well over 3,000 people, and over 10,000 bowls of soup were served or sent out for delivery that first winter alone, as well as countless portions of special salads, gourmet pizza and healthful deserts. A cadre of chefs donating their time as well as a small army of volunteers makes this happen each and every week all winter long. Our volunteers, many of whom themselves are under or unemployed in the winter months, form a special community within the community whose lives are enriched by their activities as they enrich the lives of others.
The Winter program has grown to include special events such as Spring Awakening, Mothers Day Brunch, Thanksgiving Day meals have served over 200 people, Cooking Classes for adults, Cooking Camp Week for kids, a "Meet your Farmer Day" showcasing local food producers, and most recently, we've added Singing and Drumming Workshops. We also serve as a host facility for other community groups and help them with local fund raisers. There is never an admission charge at the Common Good events, just an optional donation bowl where people are free to contribute their fair share. The events are attended by people of all ages and all walks of life: in a short time this grass roots effort has become a key focus for our community to pull together in the winter.
The Common Good currently has no government funding, foundation or institutional financial support. The funds come entirely through small donations, primarily those garnered in the summer. In June of 2012 we initiated our summer popover service seven mornings per week at the Common Good Cafe to bring visitors to our facility to enjoy themselves, learn about our programs and hopefully contribute toward it. It generated sufficient funds to allow us to make our patron entrance fully accessible to the handicapped and well protected in the winter. The generosity of our patrons, summer and winter residents and others summer visitors is the source of the nest egg we need to run our winter events.
The Common Good currently has no government funding, foundation or institutional financial support. The funds come entirely through small donations, primarily those garnered in the summer. In June of 2012 we initiated our summer popover service seven mornings per week at the Common Good Cafe to bring visitors to our facility to enjoy themselves, learn about our programs and hopefully contribute toward it. It generated sufficient funds to allow us to make our patron entrance fully accessible to the handicapped and well protected in the winter. The generosity of our patrons, summer and winter residents and others summer visitors is the source of the nest egg we need to run our winter events.
~ Inspiration ~
The background music featured on this website was magically inspired during the creation of this website.
The first song is "Over the Rainbow ~ What a Wonderful World" by Israel Kamakawi
Featuring songs from local artists in Maine.
The second is "Winter Blues" by The Junkyards Cats
We saved the best for last ~ "Enjoy the Show" by Trish Mason.
The first song is "Over the Rainbow ~ What a Wonderful World" by Israel Kamakawi
Featuring songs from local artists in Maine.
The second is "Winter Blues" by The Junkyards Cats
We saved the best for last ~ "Enjoy the Show" by Trish Mason.
* At any time, if you wish to stop the music you can mute your speakers *
Or just hit the pause button on the music player located just below your web browser.
Or just hit the pause button on the music player located just below your web browser.
What's Happening this Week at the Common Good?
Winter Events ProgramThursday's "Community Meal" ~ 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Saturday's "Cabin Fever Night" ~ 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM Sunday's "Popovers by the Sea" ~ 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Cooking Classes are free to the public and run January through March. Workshops are held year round. ** Community Meals run from November 7, 2013 through April 3, 2014 ** ** Cabin Fever Nights run from January 11th through March 29th 2014 ** ** Winter Popover service ends Sunday April 6th 2014 ** |
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Schedule of Events
For a full schedule of seasonal events, including workshops, cooking classes dates, times and menus, or if you are interested in more information on how to rent the Common Good Café and/or having your special event catered with us, please click the directory below.
Our daily summer popover service was initiated in June 2012 and provide a cheerful place to sit by the sea, fresh hot popovers, oatmeal, fresh ground and brewed coffee, in hopes that folks will make donations to show their appreciation and support. In 2012 we used money raised in the summer to make our entrance fully accessible to the handicapped and protected from the elements in winter. We also added a catering / facility rental program to help raise additional funds and hopefully put us an more secure economic footing.
~ Mother Day Brunch ~
Sunday May 11, 2014 ~ 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
The Common Good Community extends an invitation to mothers everywhere to come join us
as we come together to appreciate and celebrate your special day. In honor of Mom, we are going to prepare
for you some our most amazing dishes and you get to sit back, relax and enjoy wonderful
people and dance the day away to some very talented and local musical artists.
Details coming soon!
as we come together to appreciate and celebrate your special day. In honor of Mom, we are going to prepare
for you some our most amazing dishes and you get to sit back, relax and enjoy wonderful
people and dance the day away to some very talented and local musical artists.
Details coming soon!
Common Good Café
Since its conception in 2009, the SUMMER café has taken on many forms, finally settling on a breakfast spot that serves homemade oatmeal (with a selection of toppings to choose from; brown sugar, raisins, and crushed walnuts), along with freshly baked, light, and airy popovers. We also offer "Wicked Joe's" "organic coffee" roasted right here in Maine as well as hot chocolate and select teas.
** The Summer Cafe will be open 7 days a week, starting Saturday June 14, 2014 through Columbus Day **
Community
Social Media is the up and coming way for non-profit organization's "like us" to extend out further into the community and to connect with others of like mind. It is a low-cost, effective way for the Common Good Community to reach out to you, providing you with up-to-the-minute event, menu and announcement updates (Twitter), as well as more detailed information on upcoming events (Facebook). These are just a couple of new and exciting ways we can keep you up-to-date showcasing what we offer to the community. So be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!
Follow us ~ Twitter
Whether your tweeting, twittering or twirking don't forget to "follow us" on Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates on upcoming events happening at the Common Good Cafe! Free Wi-fi |
Like us ~ Facebook
If you would like to receive detailed information on upcoming events, as well as, after the event celebration updates, such as pictures and video, "like us" on Facebook! |
We also offer free wi-fi access! We are so fortunate to "connect" with visitors from all over the world who will come to enjoy our local programs and perhaps receive or give back in some meaningful way.
Is there a way I can help?
Please take a moment to consider the many ways in which you may be able to help us make a difference in our community. Perhaps you can volunteer a few hours per week or make a food or monetary donation. We do except food donations from local farms, grocery stores, and restaurants. There are endless ways we can help make life a little easier for another. Maybe, this is one of them.
Did you know ?
Did you know that there was a book written which tells in great detail the entire story of how the Common Good Soup Kitchen
was formed, the ideas and the people who needed to come together in order to make it what it is today?
We now have a Products page where you can read an excerpt and purchase a copy of the book,
Cooking for the Common Good ~ The Birth of a Natural Foods Soup Kitchen.
On the Products page there are also, for a limited time, Volunteer Aprons along with kids clothing and Artwork by Gaia.
In April, the "Popover Wizard" will begin the rollout of his latest brain child,
Common Good ~ Popover Mix
was formed, the ideas and the people who needed to come together in order to make it what it is today?
We now have a Products page where you can read an excerpt and purchase a copy of the book,
Cooking for the Common Good ~ The Birth of a Natural Foods Soup Kitchen.
On the Products page there are also, for a limited time, Volunteer Aprons along with kids clothing and Artwork by Gaia.
In April, the "Popover Wizard" will begin the rollout of his latest brain child,
Common Good ~ Popover Mix
* A portion of proceeds go to benefit local charities in Maine *
Goodwill
We depend primarily on the goodwill of summer visitors to Mount Desert Island to meet our expenses and to keep our winter program going. It is our hope that by providing a pleasant atmosphere to relax and unwind, while overlooking the beautiful Atlantic Ocean (which is just steps away) that everyone will share their experiences with others that The Common Good Soup Kitchen so much more than just a soup kitchen.
"Your Support Means Everything"
Your generosity is greatly appreciated and it makes the continuation of our many programs possible.
This allows us to do what we do best and that is to humbly serve the residents of our
community during the long winter months here on Mount Desert Island.
~ Live, Laugh, Love ~
The Common Good Community Team
This allows us to do what we do best and that is to humbly serve the residents of our
community during the long winter months here on Mount Desert Island.
~ Live, Laugh, Love ~
The Common Good Community Team
