Community cafe lets customers pay for meals by volunteering

BARTOW (FOX 13) - There is a new restaurant in Bartow where patrons can eat, but they won't receive a bill. 

It's called Mosaics Community Cafe, a place where customers can make a donation to pay or work it off.

"We are tring to bring together people in need alongside people who want to help," said Mikel Dorminy, with Mosaics.

The cafe opened up about a month ago after a $200,000-plus renovation, done primarily with donated materials and volunteer labor.

Mosaics was founded by Leland Family Ministries. If patrons don't have the money to pay for breakfast or lunch at the cafe, they can donate time in one of its programs.

"Whether it be volunteer in our food pantry, whether it be volunteer in our thrift store, whether it's volunteering at the cafe," said Libbie Combee, the founder of Leland Family Ministries.

For every hour people volunteer, they will earn a chip worth $10 at the cafe.

The cafe is the first one of its kind in the state of Florida. There are 50 across the country.

The most high-profile community cafe was founded by rock star Jon Bon Jovi in New Jersey.