Catching up with First Fridays Speakers: Heart-N-Soul Community Cafe

First Friday regulars likely remember hearing about Heart-n-Soul Community Cafe from Leola, Kayla, and Deb in May 2018. Heart-n-Soul is a non-profit, social entrepreneurial organization that serves locally-grown fresh food and operates under a pay-what-you-can model. We caught up with founder  Leola Daul to learn about what’s happened for Heart-n-Soul since season one.

Two big wins: Heart-n-Soul gained a new partner in First Presbyterian Church in downtown Fargo, working together one evening a month. In February, they gained official non-profit status. 

The challenge of COVID-19: Like many food organizations, Heart-n-Soul stopped serving meals due to the ongoing health pandemic. After a quick breather, Heart-n-Soul began making sack lunches in early April to disperse throughout the community. Leola, who operates by putting her own heart and soul into this mission, passionately speaks about those who have hit hard times because of the virus. Not losing sight of one of the main purposes of the café, volunteers place cards graced with words of encouragement or simple sayings like “have a nice day” into the sack lunches. Since its inception, Heart-n-Soul strives to ensure everyone feels like they matter and know they’re important, regardless of circumstance. It’s a small gesture to make until patrons can gather again, and Heart-n-Soul will slowly re-open with the rest of the state. Their first appearance will be at the Red River Market this summer. “We’re ready to be together again,” she says. Likely with a delicious meal in front of them.

Volunteers delivering lunches from Heart-n-Soul

What’s Next: Leola has seen the generosity of the Fargo-Moorhead area, but also recognizes the need for organizations like hers. Based on a 2017 study by the Great Plains Food Bank, one in nine individuals in Cass and Clay counties used the emergency feeding network. Her goal in the next few years is to establish a permanent location in town so the café can be open on a regular basis and provide more consistency. She takes time to mention that Heart-n-Soul can’t function without the help of so many community members volunteering their time and skills, as well as businesses that provide the spaces to cook and serve food. She hopes they can obtain more partnerships in order to make Heart-n-Soul a more fixed aspect of the community. 

Heart-n-Soul is a local non-profit café that wears multiple hats. Opened in 2016 under the umbrella non-profit, One World Everybody Eats, Heart-n-Soul aims to address food insecurity and build a strong community, with the intent that those who visit will leave nourished in body, heart, and soul. They also place a strong emphasis on sourcing from local farmers, utilizing gleaned food to reduce waste, and ensuring that the meals served are healthy, filling, and nutritious. 

At the heart of Heart-n-Soul Community Café is the notion that food brings people together. When Leola read about a pay-what-you-can café that opened in Utah, it sparked a desire to bring the community-minded café to Fargo. The premise is based on the mission to “help neighbors share a meal in order to foster a tight knit Fargo-Moorhead community…where all are welcome, no matter their economic status.” 

Growing up in Fargo, Leola’s parents often had others over to eat and as a family, they would volunteer their time to feed people in the community. Leola’s passion for food comes from the love of bringing people together to enjoy a meal. She highlights the role that food plays in our everyday lives saying, “food is present during the good times, sad times, celebrations. And when you care about someone, you make them food.” Her words ring true. Friends are treated to a home-cooked meal (or at least to some delivery pizza). Cupcakes are presented for happy birthdays. Food is an accompaniment, an accessory to the milestones but also the small moments, the anchor to which those laughs and tears are bound. Special thanks to Leola and the team at Heart-n-Soul for nourishing our community.

You can learn more about Heart-n-Soul Community Café or sign up to volunteer via their website.

To contact Leola directly, reach out via email.