Georgia Trend. Nov 2024

As you head to Thanksgiving celebrations and holiday parties, can you imagine not being able to eat or drink at all? Food is such an integral part of society that someone who cannot participate in the simple act of dining with others can often feel isolated.

That’s how Katherine Wolf felt for an entire year. Wolf grew up in Clarke County and was living her best life with her husband and baby in Los Angeles, when she unexpectedly suffered from a massive stroke in 2008 at the age of 26. Wolf did not know at the time that she had a rare congenital brain defect. Miraculously, she survived 16 hours of surgery, but when she came out of 40 days in ICU, she had lost the use of her legs and one hand, and her face was partially paralyzed. Over the next 14 years, Wolf went through 11 painful surgeries and a year in neuro rehab and struggled to find her seat at the table.

But Wolf did not give up hope. In fact, she wrote three books on her health struggles and speaks to audiences about having faith during suffering. She learned to navigate her life change by standing up for others. In 2013, Wolf and her husband Jay launched the nonprofit Hope Heals, which runs a summer camp in Alabama where families of people with disabilities come from all over the world to share ideas and inspire each other.

In April 2024, the Wolfs opened Atlanta’s only accessibility-first coffee shop, marketplace and community hub, in Buckhead. On the surface, MEND Coffee & Goods appears to be another modern and luxurious eatery in the neighborhood. There’s a spacious patio with plenty of tables where people can work, eat and hang out. The 2,400-square-foot interior is bright with natural light and accented with neutral colors, brass finishes and adjustable wood tables with fresh flowers on each one. On the quartz countertop, there’s a beautiful display case filled with fresh baked pastries. The counter is set at a height that wheelchairs can pull up to it. The tables swivel up and down to meet the heights of wheelchair users. The bathroom has an adult changing table. And the sound-dampening acoustic structure helps those with sensory differences.

About half the employees working at the French inspired café have disabilities. Wolf intentionally created this sacred space where dignified employment and a sense of belonging took priority over profits. Wolf says that she came from a life of privilege, but now understands what it feels like to be in a different category, so she needed to speak up for the underdog.

Guests are invited to learn and understand what people with disabilities face on a daily basis. People can rent the private meeting room or the entire café to host book clubs, adaptive exercise classes, creative writing workshops, disability networking events and grief support groups. There’s also a volunteer sign-up list to have an inter-ability coffee and conversation.

Whether it is sharing a decadent almond croissant with a friend at MEND or having turkey and stuffing around the family dinner table, sharing meals with others is a universal way to gather.

Because Wolf missed these experiences during her year in neuro rehab, she decided to feature some of her favorite food and drinks on the menu. You’ll find Bellwood Coffee, espresso, two flavors of kombucha, two kinds of quiche, avocado toast, and a turkey pesto grilled cheese sandwich – to name a few.

MEND also has a small marketplace where you can find gifts, like exquisite candles, caramels, books, sweatshirts, and pottery made by mission-driven artisans. The proceeds support redemptive employment efforts around the globe. Find out more at mendcoffee.com.