Finalist: Fork Real Community Café

Fork Real Community Café’s (Fork Real) mission is simple, but powerful, to build up community through food and conversation. Since 2015, Fork Real, as one of the only pay-what-you-can cafés in South Dakota, has offered a creative, community-driven solution to food insecurity and social connection. By offering meals made with care and shared in a space that offers each person dignity, Fork Real is not just a place to eat, it is a place to connect, to be valued, and to envision new possibilities. Over time, Fork Real has grown beyond just a dining room. Today, their programs integrate life-skills, education, financial literacy, and workforce development equipping individuals with tools for long-term success. At Fork Real every guest who walks through the doors is a partner in building a stronger community. Fork Real is rooted in the simple belief that food, connection, and conversation have the power to transform lives.