At Fork Real Community Café, every plate tells a story. Some begin at a moment of hunger, others with a dream for something more. For Casen Knepp, his story with Fork Real started long before the first customer ever walked through the door.
It was fourth grade. His teacher, Rhonda, stood at the front of the classroom and shared something personal, something bold. She told the class she planned to retire from teaching and open a community café where people could pay what they could or volunteer in exchange for a meal. “Mrs. Rhonda told us one day that she was going to retire from teaching and open a café,” Casen recalls. It sounded like a nice idea at the time, the kind of thing you might write off as a pipe dream. But for Casen, that idea planted something deeper.
That classroom memory stuck with him as he grew. Years later, when Rhonda’s vision became a reality and Fork Real Community Café opened its doors, Casen stepped forward as one of its first volunteers. He helped with food prep, cleaned up, and served at catering events, doing whatever was needed. It wasn’t glamorous, but it felt meaningful. Slowly but surely, his role grew. From the back of the house to the front, Casen learned what it took to help run a mission-driven café. Over time, he found his sweet spot.
“I was shown to perform better up front,” he says. Talking with guests, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere, and making people feel seen were the things that came naturally. Today, Casen is Fork Real’s Dining Lead. He helps manage the café’s daily operations, leads volunteers, and sets the tone for every guest experience.
But to understand Casen’s connection to Fork Real, it’s important to understand what the café really is. It’s not just a restaurant. It’s a safe space. A community. A stepping stone. A place where everyone is welcome, regardless of their ability to pay. “Our mission is to walk with those who can't really walk by themselves,” Casen explains. “We believe in earning things, not just being given them. We’re a stepping stone to a better life.”
That philosophy is present in every aspect of the café. Guests who can pay full price do so. Others give what they can. Many volunteer in exchange for a meal, gaining not just food, but dignity, purpose, and connection. “The people who came in to help open with me in the mornings... they became more than volunteers,” Casen says. “They took initiative. In my opinion, they earned way more than just a meal. They were true friends.”
Casen has seen the café grow from humble beginnings in the basement of a creamery to its current vibrant location in downtown Rapid City. He’s watched lives change not just through food, but through kindness, encouragement, and community. For him, Fork Real is a place where people come not only to eat, but to heal and to grow. And it’s changed him too.
Naturally quiet and introverted, Casen never expected to be in a role that involved meeting new people every day, managing a busy dining area, and mentoring volunteers from all walks of life. But Fork Real pulled him out of his shell. “Every day is different and always holds a new surprise,” he shares. “You never know who’s going to walk in the door. Sometimes people come in hungry. Sometimes they come in needing someone to talk to. We’re here for all of it.”
When asked to describe the café in one word, Casen doesn’t hesitate. “Eccentric,” he says, “nothing is ever dull.” That’s part of what makes it beautiful. Every person, every meal, every day is a little different, and everyone is welcome just as they are.
Casen’s story is just one of many woven into the fabric of Fork Real. He’s a living example of what’s possible when someone is given the chance to grow, to serve, and to belong. The café is not just changing lives. It’s creating ripple effects throughout the community.
When you support Fork Real, you’re not just donating to a café. You’re investing in people like Casen. You’re helping create a space where hope is served daily, where every person has something to offer, and where meals are only the beginning of the story.
Your donation helps us train and support staff and volunteers, offer meals to those in need, and build a community rooted in dignity and compassion. Help us keep this mission going strong. Donate now or visit us in person to learn how you can be part of the Fork Real family.