When I think of childhood, some themes come to mind: endless play, blissful creativity, and always asking my parents, ”What’s for lunch?!” I can only imagine how many times a day Madison Children’s Museum (MCM) staff see and hear these same responses.
As I stepped into MCM recently, I was immediately transported into another world filled with an instant flurry of activity, the boundless joy of kids racing around exploring, and at the same time, families picking up yummy food to eat together before their kiddos are off once again to explore some more. Observing for a moment this rush of activity swirling around me so organically, made me smile and think fondly of the times that I too went to museums like this and felt so free. At the time I did not realize what a gift it was to have these experiences, but as an adult, I am very grateful.
Madison Children’s Museum is a positive testimony to what can be accomplished when people come together to offer access for all, similar to that of the cooperative movement, which the early organizers of our Co-op deeply embraced. Both MCM and Willy Street Co-op started with humble beginnings in the mid-70s and early 80s, and both have now flourished into established community hubs for all to enjoy our experiences together.
Although MCM has many amazing facets, such as workshops, an endless rotating curriculum of activities, interactive exhibits, mobile roadshows, and camp days, to name a few, I want to focus on one of their newest ventures—The Lunchbox Cafe, a pay-what-you-can cafe, that started in July of 2022. I heard of this concept a year ago when I was reading through many hard-working non-profit grant applications for the Co-op’s Community Reinvestment Fund with our grant committee that is made up of Co-op staff, board members, and Owners-At-Large. I remember thinking, WOW, this is a really cool concept to be brought to such a well-known and beloved Madison institution; this could really change the trajectory of how we interact with community spaces of play. And sure enough, it did! That year, MCM received a Community Reinvestment Fund grant with which they provided 1,400 meals the following year through a pay-what-you-can model, the first-of-its-kind venture in any museum in the United States!
I love this quote from MCM’s website, “Everyone, and particularly every child, deserves delicious food to help them grow, play, and learn. Again, it’s ok to pay nothing, a little, or a lot.” This new concept removes the stigma of any assumptions concerning food insecurity and puts families at ease knowing that their children can pick what they want to eat that day with no restrictions. This food structure provides peace of mind for caretakers as they provide long-lasting, positive experiences for their children. This value of MCM parallels our Access and Double Dollars Programs here
at Willy Street Co-op. The Co-op believes everyone should have access to nutritious food no matter their financial circumstances.
As MCM’s concept evolved into its newest iteration in April of 2024, Willy Street Co-op was happy to partner with them by supplying some of our most popular grab-and-go items made by hand at our Offsite Kitchen on East Main Street in Madison. MCM purchases this food from us through preferred pricing. The Co-op is invested in seeing the success of this cafe, and we are delighted that our product reaches an even wider audience, especially our youngest community members! Products range from Curry Mango Chicken Salad, Hearty Vegan Chili, and traditional Mac and Cheese, plus six more choices thus far. Stop in to experience all the offerings as you and your family explore, play, and make memories together!
Nicholas Oconnor, Prepared Foods Category Manager at Willy Street Co-op, who helped make this partnership possible says, “This relationship speaks to many of us on so many levels. The intersection of sustainability and community means ‘local’ to me—building relationships within our community to help sustain our community. Dollars spent here get recirculated within our community and continue to help boost our local economy. This is what Willy Street is all about.” We deliver to the museum every Wednesday and Friday, and you can find our offerings in the museum’s cafe alongside offerings from Ugly Apple, Golden Produce, and snack items from various outlets.
I met with Lily Hoyer-Winfield, Director of Visitor Services, and former Willy Street Co-op North Assistant Site Director, who said, “There is weight in the word ‘can.’ Some people can pay a lot, some little, but everyone gets to eat!” This space is meant to take the pressure off of not only figuring out what to eat for lunch, but the potential limiting parameters of food cost prices, and create a space free of these anxieties. It is a moment to forget the world a little bit, and just be in the moment to play and eat; two things essential to childhood development.
Lily also noted, “We want you to use The Lunchbox like your own kitchen;” a place to gather not only in your own personal family and friend communities, but to also create opportunities to broaden your community with others. The experiences and general space of MCM remind me of the concept of “Blue Zones,” where citizens in certain cities across the world tend to live happier, healthier, longer lives.
One component highlighted in the Blue Zone philosophy is the long-lasting positive effects of a healthy community of social networks. MCM, in my opinion, sets the stage for Dane County residents to experience the possibilities of creating this Blue Zone Effect in their own lives. This can be found through the nurturing of healthy foods, play, and community in an accessible way for all to participate not only through meals, but through their vast every-ability programming filled with dance, art, exploration, music, sensory workshops, and accessible pay structure, just to name a few including their newest exhibition: Nice Age Trail that is “Inspired by nature and designed to teach kindness, this interactive exhibit invites kids to explore four Wisconsin seasons across four habitats—and the world of the animals who live there.”
– MCM Website
The Lunchbox was also named as one of the Twelve Museum Innovations of 2023 in conjunction with the numerous awards MCM has received throughout the years since 2022. Quality is the key word here, both in experiences as well as nutrition.
I encourage you to check out this Madison institution if you have not already. It may help you, even as adults, tap back into that boundless sense of joy and exploration we had as children not only through your time spent with your children but also through their Adult Swim programming which recreates play and camps specifically for adults—how fun!!
Some Lunchbox facts:
- Since opening, 77% of food costs have been covered by payments in the cafe. (MCM received additional cafe funding from individuals, businesses, and grants).
- That percentage has been rising, reaching 90% of food costs covered by in-cafe payments in June 2024.
- Over 1,200 watermelon slices have been eaten since May.
- MCM works with Green Box Compost to continue its efforts to divert organic materials from the landfill and becoming methane gas and help reduce our footprint.
We are also excited to announce that Willy Street Co-op and Madison Children’s Museum will be teaming up from August to December of this year to provide unique interactive Co-op experiences for your little ones to enjoy such as, helping make our famous Co-op Mac and Cheese with Mr. T, playing some sweet tunes on our Produce Piano, and getting your creative juices flowing while coloring designs created from our in-house graphic designer, Hallie! Lunchbox Cafe Co-op Kids Series, will take place at MCM from 10:00–11:00am on August 14, 28, September 18, October 16, November 13, and December 18. We look forward to seeing you then!
If you are compelled to support this wonderful program and give what you ‘can,’ just like the pay structure for the meals at The Lunchbox, MCM would be most grateful. Your generous donation will help continue this work for future years and ensure this program continues to thrive. For donation information, please visit: https://madisonchildrensmuseum.org/visit/lunchbox.
RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE
- Willy Street Co-op Community Reinvestment Fund: https://www.willystreet.coop/crf
- Madison Children’s Museum Lunchbox Cafe https://madisonchildrensmuseum.org/visit/lunchbox/
- Ugly Apple: https://uglyapplecafe.com/
- Blue Zones: https://www.bluezones.com/exploration/
- Madison Children’s Museum: https://madisonchildrensmuseum.org/
- Museum Innovations of 2023: https://tinyurl.com/2023-museum-innovations
- Green Box Compost: https://www.withgreenbox.com/
- Madison Children’s Museum Lunchbox Cafe Donations: https://madisonchildrensmuseum.org/visit/lunchbox/
