For groups near an immigration check-in office
Start a hospitality table at your check-in office
People line up at check-in offices on weekday mornings, often for hours, often with their kids, not knowing whether they'll walk back out. A table out front with coffee, snacks, and a few familiar faces changes that wait. It's hospitality, not services: you don't need to be a lawyer or speak Spanish. Start with what you have, small as it is. It turns out to be enough.
Café Gratis is a ministry of welcoming the stranger. Volunteers of every faith and none are welcome at the table.
“When I see you here, I don’t feel alone.”
The basics
What it takes
One morning a week
The same weekday every week, so families know when to look for you.
A lead plus 1 to 3 volunteers
A small table is easier to walk up to than a crowd.
A place to stand
Public sidewalk near the door, and whatever your city requires.
Basic gear
Canopy, table, signs, coffee, and snacks. Most groups pay for it themselves.
How to get going
Six steps to your first morning
Serve with us
Spend a morning or two at our table in Tukwila to see how it works.
Watch your office
Go one check-in morning without a table. Note when the line forms and where people wait.
Settle where you'll stand
Use a public sidewalk, not a private lot. Ask your city what it needs, and have the lead carry any permit.
Pick a lead, a day, and a few people
The lead learns first, then recruits and schedules. Keep one weekday until it runs smoothly.
Agree on the rules
No photos or names of guests. No questions about anyone's case. Plan with your local rapid-response network for a detention; we'll share our training.
Sort out supplies
Brew coffee at home and bring it in airpots. Sweet bread, fruit, and juice boxes go fast. A coffee-hour jar or a small grant covers most costs.
We'll help you start
Talk with us before you start
Café Gratis has served weekday mornings in Tukwila, Washington, since December 2025. We'll set up a call, have you serve a morning with us, and coach your lead.
Talk with us at cafegratis.org/start