New Kensington's Knead Cafe to receive $25K grant from Northwestern Mutual

For the second time in three years, New Kensington’s Knead Community Cafe is receiving a $25,000 grant from Northwestern Mutual for its work in the community.

Kevin Bode, who with his wife, Mary, founded Knead four years ago, has been a financial adviser with Northwestern Mutual for 34 years. They received a $25,000 grant from Northwestern’s annual Community Service Awards in 2018, just after marking their first year of operating the cafe.

Bode said Northwestern Mutual’s home office in Milwaukee told him he was eligible to apply for the national award again, and suggested he try.

Still, Bode was shocked to again be among those recognized.

“I didn’t have any intentions of applying this time since we won it three years ago,” he said. “I didn’t think we’d get it again.”

Kevin Miller, managing partner of Northwestern Mutual in Pittsburgh, will present the check to Bode at the cafe at 1011 Barnes St. in a ceremony beginning at noon Friday. Those attending are asked to follow covid-19 protocols, including wearing face masks and social distancing.

Through its foundation, Northwestern Mutual recognizes 16 of its advisers each year for their volunteer service. This year, nine received $15,000 each to benefit a nonprofit they support, while three received an additional $5,000, for a total $20,000, for connection to the company’s childhood cancer program.

Bode is again one of the four honored as a “Most Exceptional” recipient who receive $25,000 each.

“Kevin is an active member in the community who continuously steps up to help those who need support,” said Eric Christophersen, president of the Northwestern Mutual Foundation. “His commitment to serving his community only deepened this past year and through Knead Community Cafe, Kevin has been able to reduce food insecurity by safely providing meals for families in the New Kensington area.”

The cafe offers a “pay-what-you-can” system, which includes volunteering in exchange for a meal.

Bode said the grant will go toward supporting the operations of the cafe, which was hit hard by the covid pandemic. Its fundraising ability was hindered but, at the same, it faced increased demand for food.

Since its founding, Knead has raised between $50,000 and $100,000 each year, Bode said. Last year, its raised less than $10,000.

“We rely heavily on the events we do every year to help make up our budget deficit for the people we give meals to. All the major events we planned last year were canceled,” he said. “We don’t know when we’ll get back to event gatherings again. This grant will really help us continue doing the free meals we give away and continue to pay the bills.”

At the start of the pandemic a year ago, Bode said he feared it would take the cafe under. Its monthly meal program became weekly and the cafe — built around people sharing a meal together in-person — had to change to takeout only.

“I told our board I didn’t know if it was going to work,” he said. “Thankfully, the Pittsburgh Foundation and others immediately opened up grants and we got two almost immediately. That really helped keep our doors open.

“We started getting donations from New Kensington and all over the country. I really felt like God’s hand was on this and we were going to be fine, and it has been since.

“We thought when the pandemic hit, people would be tightening their belts. We were concerned people wouldn’t be donating as much as they used to,” he said. “It’s been just the opposite.

“We’ve seen the generosity of people like never before. I have no doubts we’ll continue to be fine, find a way to get through this and continue to survive like we have.”