Gathering Inspiration

Lessons from Hartford's Pay-What-You-Can Model

A few weeks ago, I was delighted to accept an invitation to travel to Hartford, Connecticut on a Saturday evening to experience a meal at Gather 55, the city’s pay-what-you-can restaurant.

The three of us—Leslie Smith, Stone Soup’s board treasurer; Boone Shear, UMass Anthropology professor (and former board member); and me, Emily Koester, board secretary—were inspired to go after having an in-depth conversation about Stone Soup's own pay-what-you-can model.

We were curious to see how their innovative dining model works. What we found was both delicious and inspiring.

Emily, Boone, and Leslie at Gather 55 in Hartford, CT

Gather 55 is a pay-what-you-can dining experience run by the nonprofit Hands on Hartford. Four days a week, they serve breakfast and lunch, with flexible payment options, and four evenings each week they offer a 3-course dinner from a prix fixe menu created by a rotating guest chef.

The atmosphere at Gather 55 is warm and elegant. The option to purchase alcohol, adds a sophisticated touch.

We were especially curious about the payment structure for breakfast and lunch. Diners can participate by paying either the full posted price, a reduced price of $3.00, or they may participate by choosing to volunteer their time, depending on their ability to pay that day. For dinner service, they offer a limited number of reservations for diners who are unable to pay.

This blend of choice and accessibility was inspiring.

Gather 55 is one of Hands on Hartford's revenue generating programs. Other sources of revenue include kitchen rental and rental of their meeting space. These initiatives combine sustainability with meaningful community impact—a model that left us truly inspired.

Hands on Hartford's other impactful programs include:

• A full-service food pantry
• Day programs that include health screenings and referral services to help with housing and employment.
• The Greater Hartford Outreach Team, which connects houseless folks to shelter and resources
• A backpack nutrition program for schoolchildren
• Supportive housing opportunities for marginalized community members

Boone, Leslie and I felt very welcomed and well fed at Gather 55, and our curiosity was piqued as to how Stone Soup might learn from their work.

Boone and UMass student, Abby Brook, are helping Stone Soup reimagine and reinvigorate our pay-what-you-can model. Places like Gather 55 are sources of inspiration as we build our own dream here in Greenfield, MA.

We definitely want to go back to Gather 55 to experience the lunch scene and get a full tour.

Would you care to join us?

In Community,

Emily Koester

Board Secretary, Stone Soup Café