TOAST Nunawading owners Tim and Michelle Biddle put on fundraiser barbecues

A Nunawading espresso and jaffle bar has taken off in the few months since it opened, and now its owners are doing their bit to give back to the community.

Tim and Michelle Biddle have opened a new cafe in Nunawading and they are holding weekly events to fundraise for charities. Picture: George Salpigtidis

A Nunawading espresso and jaffle bar has taken off in the few months since it opened, and now its owners are doing their bit to give back to the community.

Tim and Michelle Biddle have begun hosting Thursday night barbecues at their coffee shop TOAST, with $2 from each meal sold put towards a charity nominated by their customers.

“The idea is to connect with neighbours, meet people you might not ordinarily meet, and to raise a few dollars for some good causes,” Mr Biddle said.

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Between 150 and 200 people have dropped by to have a chat and a feed at the first three barbecue nights, raising hundreds of dollars for Dogs for Kids with Disability, The School Project and The Smith Family.

Ms Biddle said the evenings had been popular with families on their way to and from sporting commitments but all ages and groups were getting behind them.

Tim and Michelle Biddle have opened a new cafe in Nunawading and they are holding weekly events to fundraise for charities. Picture: George Salpigtidis

The small business doesn’t just serve up the standard sausage in bread for the occasions, offering pulled pork burgers, veggie burgers, Mexican gourmet sausages and chicken ribs.

The fundraiser evenings will run from about 5-8pm every Thursday until April 18.

Ms Biddle said they would look at hosting similar events in winter, being limited by their small indoor space, but would potentially put on soup nights.

The Nunawading couple opened TOAST in September.

“Tim had always wanted to have a cafe,” Ms Biddle said.

She said she’d been eyeing off the space at 144 Junction Rd before they leased it when she drove their son Lachlan to St Philips Catholic Primary School down the road.

Ms Biddle said Nunawading’s strong community spirit and word-of-mouth had been wonderful for the business, which they hadn’t advertised at all beyond on social media.

The majority of its customers are passers-by making trips to the nearby schools and kinders and walking the dog.

“We’re your local ‘grab and go’ or ‘stop and prop’ cafe where you can grab a quick coffee and treat before heading to basketball or swimming lessons,” Mr Biddle said.

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Ms Biddle said the support the business had received and their nine-year-old Lachlan was behind their motivation to fundraise.

“He’s an only child and we wanted him to understand that sense of community,” Ms Biddle said.

TOAST sells coffee, jaffles, pastries, milkshakes, smoothies and smoothie bowls.

“We focus on a good quality cup rather than all the fluff of latte art.”

Its open everyday from 7am to 3pm.

Details: facebook.com/TOASTnunawading