Everyone who visits SAME Café Toledo is treated exactly the same. The mission of SAME Café Toledo is to create community through healthy food access. People from diverse backgrounds gather and enjoy locally grown, freshly prepared meals in the heart of downtown at the Toledo Lucas County Main Public Library.
SAME Café Toledo welcomes everyone to participate with the resources they bring: time, money, or produce. This innovative, participation-based restaurant provides access to healthy food in a community setting, where people can be nourished with dignity while contributing what they can.
The Cook to Work program equips participants with essential job-readiness skills, promoting economic stability and opening doors to paid employment or further culinary training.
SAME Café Toledo opened in 2022 in the Toledo Main Library as the pilot for the SAME Café / Library Partnership Model and is based on the 18-year success of SAME Café Denver.
SAME is working with other local communities to bring SAME Café to their own town! Find out more through SAME Café 101.
Since opening, SAME Café Toledo has served over 27,000 meals and provided over 1,200 hours of Cook to Work training. See the 2023 Impact numbers below!
A key component of SAME Café Toledo is participation. All guests are seen for who they are - meaningful participants and generous contributors to the community!
SAME's philosophy is that everyone, regardless of economic status, deserves the chance to eat healthy food while being treated with dignity. Please join us in supporting this important work!
SAME Café Toledo gratefully accepts donations of goods, services, money, and produce!
Want to give by check or cash? Please send to or come by:
SAME Café Toledo
325 N. Michigan Street
Toledo, OH 43604