Compassion Café

Aug 2

One of the hidden treasures on Long Beach Island is Compassion Café. There are plenty of Coffee shops on the island that serve delicious coffee and pastries. They are great places to catch up with friends and family while sipping your favorite brew but there is something different about Compassion Café. The name sort of gives it away.

As a non-profit organization, Compassion Café does not own a building or store but serves its customers at and through the graciousness of The Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club on South Atlantic Avenue in Beach Haven.

Compassion Café was created to offer meaningful employment and job training for adolescents and adults with disabilities. Its founder, Sue Sharkey, and the enormous number of volunteers help manage the Café and insist that each worker earn a just and fair salary. Much of the baking and prep work is done at the First United Methodist Church on Long Beach Island. You cannot help but sense the spirit of love that surrounds you while you’re enjoying your morning coffee.

Today’s Gospel speaks to us about the multiplication of the loaves and fish. We have heard this story countless times, primarily because it is a powerful story. Jesus blesses five loaves and two fish. He then broke the bread and began to share it with his disciples who in turn shared it with those gathered. One interpretation is that the miracle was not so much Divine intervention to create twelve wicker baskets of extra bread and fish, but that Jesus’ message empowered everyone to share what they had so that everyone could have what they needed.

The reason Compassion Café is different from other coffee shops is because it is based on this model that we all have something to share and can contribute to the common good. Compassion Café recognizes that everyone has intrinsic human dignity and are equals in our common humanity.

They are open Monday – Thursday from 7:00 AM -11:00 AM There is always plenty of coffee, bagels, pastries, quiche, and even a few dog bakery products.

As they are a non-profit organization, they also welcome donations.

For more information on the Café, I would encourage you to go one morning over to The Sea Shell and check it out in person. You can also visit their website at: www.compassioncafelbi.org.

The multiplication of the loaves and fish continue to happen all the time. We just need to know where to look.

May God continue to bless everyone who works and volunteers at Compassion Café.

Peace and All Good.