Leo’s Community Café awarded Best Local Project

Calling all foodies and community champions! Leo’s Community Café is the best spot on the Northern Gold Coast to grab a delicious breakfast or coffee while making a difference in the community. Every cup counts!

A project of the Northern Gold Coast Rotaract Club, the café operates out of The Meeting Place at 25 Leo Graham Way, Oxenford. Originally named the Community Coffee Shop, the café was renamed in March this year to honour the memory of Leo Graham, whose generosity helped build The Meeting Place – a community and youth centre offering programs and social services to young people and their families.

Leo’s Community Café is not your average charity fundraiser. It’s a long-term, regular and reliable source of funding for the Emergency Relief Program, which provides essential support to those in need in the community. The project takes an entrepreneurial approach to fundraising that’s changing lives one coffee at a time.

For young people looking to develop new skills and gain valuable work experience, the café provides training opportunities in service, coffee making, and food preparation. It’s a fantastic chance to learn from experienced volunteers while giving back to the community. Whether youth are looking to kick-start a career in hospitality or simply wanting to give back, Leo’s Community Café is the perfect place to start.

So, what’s on the menu at Leo’s? From classic breakfast options like bacon and egg burgers and smashed avocado on toast to wholesome baked goods like scones, scrolls, and hot chips, there is something to tempt all tastes.

But Leo’s isn’t just about food. It’s a vibrant hub of activity where locals can connect and engage with their community. The café also provides training for service, making it a great opportunity to learn new skills.

The benefits of the Northern Gold Coast Emergency Relief Program are enormous. The program provides emergency bill payments, food boxes, and ongoing support to those in need in the community. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the NGCR club members, the program has raised over $4,500 in just a year and a half of running Leo’s Community Café. That’s a huge accomplishment that’s making a real impact in people’s lives.

In fact, their hard work and dedication to the community were recognised at the Zone 8 Conference in 2022, when the NGCR club members won the prestigious Best Local Project award. It’s a testament to their commitment to creating a sustainable and impactful fundraising initiative. The award has inspired the team to keep pushing and growing Leo’s community.