An Augusta staple opened its doors to the community, Saturday morning. Café 209 had closed on Sept. 27, just after Hurricane Helene hit Augusta, and has kept business going through its food truck.
On Saturday, however, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the award-winning soul food restaurant managed to feed hundreds of Augustans affected by the storm.
Augusta Commissioners Jordan Johnson, Tony Lewis, Stacy Pulliam and Francine Scott where among the sponsors of the giveaway, in which the diner supplied free meals to some 500 people.
This wasn’t the first time owners Glen and Cassandra Brinson opened the restaurants doors to offer free meals for those in need. Last November, Café 209 hosted “The Return of Feast in the Streets,” a Thanksgiving Day dinner for the homeless.
“I just love Augusta, and I want to help make my community be better,” said Cassandra Brinson. “I don’t want to not help. I will always be able to step in and help.”
The line outside the café door didn’t let up as staff distributed meals of chicken, green beans, with rice and gravy or mashed potatoes. Both Commissioners Johnson and Scott noted that many locals who came by are still waiting for power to get restored in order to cook, and some not able to afford to buy food at all.
“They still don’t have power, and they go on to get fast food, but they want vegetables, protein,” said Scott. “[Café 209] could’ve easily sold what they gave away today.”
Johnson lauded the Brinsons’ generosity, saying that he was “proud to be connected to folks like Cassandra and Glen” who would offer to feed locals, but also stressed that the impact of the storm highlights the ongoing needs of many in Richmond County who were struggling before the storm.
“Folks have been hurting all over the city for a long time, but Hurricane Helene has really amplified the issues that folks are dealing with on an everyday basis in our city,” he said. “I hope Hurricane Helene shows us the work that we need to do to help folks in our community that need it most.”
The event was coordinated in conjunction with two other local food giveways that continued after 209’s ended, at Ebenezer Church on 1699 Olive Road, which gave out meals until 3 p.m., and the Boys & Girls Club on 1903 Division St., which offered food between 5 p.m. and 7p.m.
Café 209, which is located at 566 Broad St., will be back open for business on Tuesday.
“I believe that you can’t beat God’s giving, His grace or His mercy,” Cassandra Brinson said. “So you have to be a servant. I just don’t know any other way to look at it.”
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
