Java drinkers who experience pangs of guilt over their latte bills have an opportunity assuage some of those feelings and pay it forward at The Pamplemousse Project, a coffee shop and café in White Plains that donates every penny earned to area nonprofits.
The Pamplemousse Project is the brainchild of White Plains residents Lydia and Gary Kris, who paired their desire to create a gathering place with an urge to give back. “We saw a need for services in the community,” says Lydia. “Hunger, the arts…organizations are struggling to raise money.” The couple wanted to help other ailing sectors, as well, from health and human services to education, affordable housing, and more.
In December 2022, in a new expansive space, they began brewing—as a link to apply for funding went live on their website. Six months later, in June of 2023, they emptied the cash register and awarded their first grants. Westchester Youth Alliance, Paws Crossed Animal Rescue, and Lifting Up Westchester received $3,500 apiece; not a dime went into the Kris’ pockets.
Another round of grants followed, and so far in 2024 alone, The Pamplemousse Project has directed $21,000 toward six charities, including Pediatric Cancer Foundation, Pace Women’s Justice Center, and SPCA Westchester. At press time, the couple was poised to announce grants for the fall, bringing them closer to their goal of making grants quarterly.
In determining which charities to benefit, the shopkeepers receive input from their Customer Advisory Board, composed of the café’s loyalty members. “We want the community involved,” Lydia says.
The Pamplemousse Project sources beans from certified Rainforest Alliance producers and brews them in a bright, modern space designed with natural, sustainable materials.
In addition to all the steaming handcrafted incarnations you’d expect from a proper coffee shop, the menu also offers tea, apple cider, and hot chocolate. Pastries, muffins, and sweets from local bakeries give the sips something to wash down, and heartier breakfast burritos, bowls, and salads make for a solid café experience. There’s also a wall of candy and gleaming glass cases dotted with chocolates and truffles.
As for why this café with a conscience is named after the French word for grapefruit: “It’s a silly nickname for our dog and it’s a metaphor between our dog, who is a rescue, and our project with the café,” says Lydia. “We don’t know her history and she has her challenges—much like our community, which has its challenges, like every place.”
The couple intends to keep addressing those challenges seven days a week, one cup at a time. And if you spring for a double shot, all the better—for everyone.
The Pamplemousse Project
124 Mamaroneck Ave, White Plains
914.829.4736
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