#Japan #Kawasaki Frontale #Thermos #Children's Cafe #Kanagawa

Kawasaki Frontale and Thermos' Community Initiative

In a heartwarming effort to enhance community welfare, Kawasaki Frontale, in collaboration with Thermos, has donated 200 frypans to children's cafes across Kanagawa Prefecture. This initiative aims to address operational challenges faced by these cafes as the demand for meals has seen a significant rise in recent years.

Background of the Donation

The initiative was introduced by Tohru Kuroki, the Manager of the Promotion Department at Kawasaki Frontale, who explained that the motivation stemmed from discussions with the Kawasaki Children’s Cafe Network. This network, which serves as an intermediary support body for children's cafes, highlighted their struggles with distributing items and managing donations effectively. Since its inception in August 2022, the project aims to solve these challenges while bolstering the support system for local children’s cafes.

As more and more children utilize these cafes, the load on the staff has increased, resulting in additional pressure on the preparation and serving of meals. This trend is not unique to Kawasaki City but reflects a broader issue faced by children's cafes throughout Kanagawa Prefecture.

Goals of the Initiative

By providing Thermos frypans, Kawasaki Frontale hopes to improve the cooking efficiency of these cafes, making it easier for volunteers to prepare meals in limited time frames. The club envisions itself as not just a sports entity but as a vital part of the community infrastructure, actively connecting with and supporting local initiatives through its “Kawasaki Frontale SDGs” strategy.

Voices of Gratitude

Yukari Sato, a representative from the Kanagawa Children’s Cafe and Regional Cafe Network, expressed heartfelt thanks for the donation and highlighted the persistent challenges these establishments face. Previous support, including cooking tools, received positive feedback from users, illustrating the need for community initiatives like this one. She also mentioned that the new frypans, which are deep and large, allow for the preparation of substantial quantities of food at once, easing the workload for volunteer staff and facilitating more interaction with the children.

Supporting Sustainable Practices

Mitsutaka Nishigori, the Manager of the Corporate Planning Department at Thermos, elaborated on the company’s commitment to sustainable practices and supporting social well-being. He emphasized that children’s cafes are more important than ever, especially considering the changing family dynamics prompting increased need. Thermos aims to deliver products that contribute to resolving these societal challenges. The generous donation of frypans, designed for efficiency and ease of use, is expected to enhance meal offerings and provide children using these cafes with happier experiences.

About the Kanagawa Children’s Cafe Network

The Kanagawa Children’s Cafe and Regional Cafe Network is a collective that gathers cafes focused on benefitting children and creating a nurturing environment. The network promotes interaction among practical organizations and encourages partnerships with various entities supporting children's well-being, striving for a robust community where children can grow healthily and happily.

Partnership with Kawasaki Frontale

The recent activities have surfaced due to the partnership established between Thermos and Kawasaki Frontale, which began with a Club Partner Contract in the 2022 season and transitioned to an Official Partner Contract in 2023.

About Thermos

Founded in Germany in 1904, Thermos boasts a rich history as the pioneer of vacuum insulated bottles, having released the world's first glass vacuum bottle and, later, the first high vacuum stainless steel bottle. Today, Thermos is the leading brand globally, celebrated in over 120 countries. The company continues to innovate in various cooking and drinking vessels while proposing eco-friendly and comfortable lifestyles through its constantly evolving technology and creativity.