Hometown Hero: Jennie Knowlton
This week’s Hometown Hero, presented by the O. Max Gardner Foundation, is Jennie Knowlton.
Knowlton is the founder of the Quilt Maker Cafe in Pittsboro. They first launched in 2021 as a mobile restaurant, but they just opened their first permanent location in May. The Quilt Maker Cafe opens their doors to everyone regardless of their ability to pay. It’s a full restaurant experience with no pricing so every guest chooses for themselves what they’re most comfortable giving, whether it be a financial donation, volunteering, or something else. The community and dignity aspect, giving people companionship and a welcoming environment.
Hidden Gems: Meet Jennie Knowlton of The Quiltmaker Cafe
Hidden Gems:
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The Quiltmaker Café features a restaurant-style experience, complete with a curated menu and choices, all designed to emphasize human dignity, offering no pricing to guests. Our mission is to provide community & healthy meals to all people, regardless of ability to donate, by utilizing seven main elements: social enterprise, donations only, guests choose portions, everyone is welcome, space for community, opportunity to volunteer & excellent food.
Everybody Eats: A Movement
Everybody Eats: A Movement is a podcast series exploring the transformative work of community cafes, non-profit restaurants that serve quality food with dignity to all, regardless of ability to pay.
”Everybody Eats: A Movement” is a podcast series hosted by Renee Boughman, former Executive Director & Chef of F.A.R.M. Café in Boone, NC, spotlighting the inspiring work of community cafes—non-profit restaurants serving quality food with dignity to all, regardless of ability to pay—while exploring their role in combating food insecurity and fostering inclusive communities.
Renee talks with Jennie Knowlton, the Executive Director and Founder of the Quiltmaker Cafe in Pittsboro, North Carolina. Named after the beloved children’s book The Quiltmaker’s Gift, the cafe is a testament to the power of patience and community persistence.
Jennie shares the candid reality of a five-year journey to find a brick-and-mortar home. Despite many obstacles, Jennie didn't just wait; she spent years building a "tapestry" of support through pop-up meals, food truck events, and deep involvement in the local community.
The conversation explores the unique challenges of merging a nonprofit mission with a professional restaurant, the importance of mentorship from other community cafe directors, and why Jennie believes the long wait actually resulted in the perfect downtown location.
Everybody Eats: A Movement-with Jennie Knowlton
For additional conversations with other Cafe Founders: https://everybodyeatsamovement.podbean.com/
Pay-what-you-can cafés: How they uplift underserved communities in NC
How pay-what-you-can cafés work
This spring, The Quiltmaker Café will open its brick-and-mortar location in Pittsboro. The nonprofit has been operating as a pop-up and mobile concept for the past five years as the team searched for the right space within walking distance of downtown Pittsboro.
Similar to F.A.R.M., Quiltmaker customers will be greeted by a volunteer who explains the café’s model: Order your meal at the counter and then pay what you can, or volunteer for a shift and receive a meal for free. READ FULL ARTICLE: Cardinal & Pine, North Carolina News You Can Use
The Quiltmaker Cafe is invited back to The Porch!
97.9 The Hill On The Porch Interview
Co-Founder and Executive Director, Jennie Knowlton, is honored to be a part of 97.9 The Hill WCHL and Chapelboro's "On The Porch" programming for this October. I joined host Randy Voller for a discussion about The Quiltmaker Cafe, a nonprofit restaurant opening in Pittsboro NC.
Although the cafe will be new to Pittsboro (75 W. Salisbury St.), the idea to Pay-What-You-Can is not. We have had the amazing guidance and support from the national organization, One World Everybody Eats and two NC cafes among many others, Raleigh's A Place at the Table and Boone's F.A.R.M Cafe.
Listen to Co-Founder and Executive Director, Jennie Knowlton, On The Porch with Randy Voller
On The Porch with Randy Voller and Jennie Knowlton
97.9 WCHL-FM on Sunday, October 12, 2025 at 11am, 4pm and 8pm
"On The Porch" is also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Congratulations to The Quiltmaker Cafe Team!
Ray Trapp presented Jennie Knowlton with the Duke Energy Corporation Citizenship and Service Award at the Chatham Chamber of Commerce annual gala this January.
Her unwavering commitment to fostering connection and care exemplifies leadership at its finest and she is indeed laying the foundation for a community treasure that will serve generations to come.
Congrats and well deserved, Jennie!
GuideStar
PLATINUM SEAL of Transparency: The Quiltmaker Cafe is excited to announce that we've earned our 2025 Platinum Seal with @CandidDotOrg! Get updates on our impact through our #NonprofitProfile The Quiltmaker Cafe. We are proud to share the work our nonprofit does!
Candid is an information service specializing in reporting on U.S. nonprofit companies. In 2016, its database provided information on 2.5 million organizations. Click the platinum square below to learn more!
In the News...
Chatham News + Record
The Cafe's Co-Founder and Executive Director, Jennie Knowlton, was listed #13 in The Chatham News+Record, The People Who Made Chatham Exceptional!
Jennie Knowlton established the nonprofit Quiltmaker Café in February 2021 with her husband David and daughter Elizabeth and a simple vision: to open a permanent fast-casual restaurant in Pittsboro using a pay-what-you-can model, in which those eating set their own price for the meal. Donations can take different forms, including monetary, produce or donations of time through volunteering.
Knowlton, who grew up experiencing food insecurity, remembers the associated stigma. A core feature of the restaurant is dignity, she said, and being able to give agency to patrons to dine out and enjoy a meal with others.
“So there’ll be no separation between who might be paying, who might be volunteering, who might be paying under,” she said. “And just building that community also with using volunteers, rather than employees, [so] that everyone is also serving each other, once again, no matter from what type of means they might be coming from.
Interview with Cooper Metts, senior at UNC Chapel Hill
Cooper Metts is a senior at UNC Chapel Hill studying journalism and economics. Cooper has worked for publications and media outlets including The Pamlico News, The Daily Tar Heel, Chapel Hill Magazine, Chatham Magazine and Curtis Media Group. Cooper hopes to begin a career in business or economics reporting after graduation this upcoming spring!
In early 2023, Jennie and Cooper met at the Chatham County Visitors Center and started discussing the Cafe. The concept seemed interesting enough for a final class project!
Chatham News + Record
PITTSBORO — For those looking for a hot meal but without Thanksgiving plans, or if you’re simply seeking company and conversation, Pittsboro’s Quiltmaker Café is hosting a Thanksgiving event to provide a space for it all — regardless of ability to donate.
This year marks the first time the nonprofit Quiltmaker Café is holding a “Donate-What-You-Can” meal for Thanksgiving; it’s scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving day — Thursday, Nov. 24 — at Postal Fish Company in Pittsboro.
For café co-founder and executive director Jennie Knowlton, it’s a day she’s looking forward to for a number of reasons.
Front Page News! November 16, 2022
97.9 The Hill On The Porch Interview
CH@T with the Chatham News + Record
Jennie Knowlton, founder and executive director of The Quiltmaker Café, began her first nonprofit journey early last year, along with her husband, David, and daughter, Elizabeth.
Having experienced food insecurity herself during different periods in her life, she says she can personally relate to the dignity lost as choices become fewer and fewer. With The Quiltmaker Cafe — set to open soon in Pittsboro — Knowlton is excited to combine her passion for reducing waste with her desire to address growing food insecurity by providing a space where all are welcome to a meal and community. This week, we spoke with Knowlton about her plans for the cafe.
Read more of The Quiltmaker Cafe's Q&A with Chatham News + Record from February 23, 2022 here