- link Copy URL
- [     Share on X ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Let’s Help Panera Bread Take Corporate Social Responsibility to a New Level - A blog by Cindy Hoot https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/6891?absolute=1&via=3blnews "Share on X")
- [  Share on linkedin ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/6891?absolute=1 "Share on Linkedin")
- [  Share on facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/6891?absolute=1 "Share on Facebook")
- [ email Share via email ](mailto:?subject=Let’s Help Panera Bread Take Corporate Social Responsibility to a New Level - A blog by Cindy Hoot&body=ESG News from 3BL Blogs https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/6891?absolute=1 "Share via email")
 
 

 # Let’s Help Panera Bread Take Corporate Social Responsibility to a New Level - A blog by Cindy Hoot

 

##### The Inspired Economist highlights the individuals and companies applying passion and innovation to economic, social, and environmental challenges.

 

 

 May 19, 2010 9:02 PM ET

 [Let’s Help Panera Bread Take Corporate Social Responsibility to a New Level](http://bit.ly/cindyhoot)

I was surprised to read about Panera Bread’s new cafe in St. Louis dubbed the St. Louis Bread Company Cares Cafe. The concept is simple yet groundbreaking… take whatever you want to eat or drink and instead of paying a cashier, drop whatever you can afford into a donation box. And if you don’t have any money, you can donate your time. Crazy concept, I know.

According to a great article in [USA Today](http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2010-05-18-panerabread18_ST_N.htm), Ron Shaich, who stepped down as Panera’s CEO last week, is “trying to find out what human nature is all about” and is banking on our humanity. He said he’s dreamed about doing something like this for years. So the question is will Panera’s social experiment prove that goodness does exist in the human condition or that we are fundamentally selfish creatures at heart?

The new St. Louis Bread Company Cares Cafe looks and feels just like its for-profit sister, [Panera Bread](http://www.panerabread.com/), even the menu is the same. The only difference is the baked goods are one day old. They are unsold items from other St. Louis Bread Company restaurants in the area. The exception is the bread used to make sandwiches.

[continue reading](http://bit.ly/cindyhoot).



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 [![](/sites/default/files/Clients/bloglogo.jpg)](/profiles/3bl-blogs)

 

 

### More from 3BL Blogs

###### [Social Media and Leadership: Are Twitter and Facebook 21st Century Necessities? - By Aman Singh](/news/social-media-and-leadership-are-twitter-and-facebook-21st-century-necessities-aman-singh)

 Aug 22, 2011 3:20 PM ET

  



###### [What Makes a Sustainability Leader? ](/news/what-makes-sustainability-leader)

 Aug 12, 2011 2:55 PM ET

  



###### [Social Emerges as Online Giving Driver for 2011 – By Companies for Good blog](/news/social-emerges-online-giving-driver-2011-companies-good-blog)

 Aug 11, 2011 3:00 PM ET

  



###### [Praise is not a free lunch - By Michael Prager](/news/praise-not-free-lunch-michael-prager)

 Jul 29, 2011 8:46 AM ET

  



###### [Iowa Eclipses Canada in Grain Production, Challenges China in Soybean Production - By Earth Policy Institute](/news/iowa-eclipses-canada-grain-production-challenges-china-soybean-production-earth-policy)

 Jul 28, 2011 10:05 AM ET

  



###### [Growing Water Deficit Threatening Grain Harvests - By Earth Policy Institute](/news/growing-water-deficit-threatening-grain-harvests-earth-policy-institute)

 Jul 21, 2011 8:24 AM ET

  



###### [Remove fat kids from home - By Michael Prager](/news/remove-fat-kids-home-michael-prager)

 Jul 19, 2011 11:08 AM ET

  



###### [World on the Edge by the Numbers: Shining a Light on Energy Efficiency - By Earth Policy Insititute](/news/world-edge-numbers-shining-light-energy-efficiency-earth-policy-insititute)

 Jul 14, 2011 8:57 AM ET