🦃 Give Thanks, Give Back: FoCo Cafe’s Pay-It-Forward Thanksgiving
🦃 Pay It Forward with FoCo Cafe
Happy Monday, FoCo,
Hey guys, Ben here. With Thanksgiving around the corner, I wanted to share something that truly captures the FoCo spirit. FoCo Cafe is once again serving up delicious holiday meals while giving everyone in our community a seat at the table. Whether you’re picking up your own meal or paying it forward to someone in need, this is one tradition worth keeping alive.
Which U.S. state was the first to officially recognize Thanksgiving as an annual holiday — years before it became a national tradition?
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🦃 Pay It Forward: Thanksgiving with FoCo Cafe
If you’ve been looking for a way to give back (or just skip cooking this Thanksgiving), here’s a heartwarming win-win: FoCo Cafe is offering affordable pre-ordered Thanksgiving meals — and you can also “pay it forward” by buying one for someone in need.
For 11 years, FoCo Cafe has been serving up more than just great food. They run on a “pay-what-you-can” model, meaning everyone is welcome — whether you can pay a little, a lot, or nothing at all. They also keep a community fridge and coat closet stocked year-round, so if you’ve got extra food or warm gear, you can drop it off anytime.
Here’s what’s cooking this Thanksgiving:
🦃 Traditional Thanksgiving Meal – $15
🥕 GF/Vegan Meal Option – $15
💛 Pay-It-Forward Add-On – $15 (covers a meal for someone who can’t afford one)
📍 Pick-Up: Thursday, Nov. 27 | 10:00–11:30 AM | FoCo Cafe, 225 Maple St.
🎟️ Order or Donate: coloradogives.org/organization/FoCoCafe → Select “ThxG Pay-It-Forward”
It’s one of those simple local traditions that captures what Fort Collins is all about — community, compassion, and good food shared with good people. So if you’re able, grab a plate, give a plate, and help FoCo Cafe keep the kindness flowing this holiday season.
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As I get ready for my own family’s first Thanksgiving with a newborn, I’m reminded how special it is to live in a community that looks out for one another. FoCo Cafe is proof that kindness can be as simple as sharing a meal — or paying for someone else’s. So if you’re able, grab a plate, give a plate, and spread that FoCo gratitude wherever you go.
(Oh, and if you guessed New York for our trivia — you’re right! 🦃) Governor DeWitt Clinton proclaimed Thanksgiving a state holiday back in 1817, long before President Lincoln made it national in 1863.
💬 Got ideas for making What’s Happenin’ Fort Collins even better?
I’d love to hear from you. Just hit reply — I read every message and always respond when I can.
— Ben
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