Have you ever thought about how to combine good deeds with good eats? There’s a place you can go that has amazing made-from-scratch options, but it gets better. All you have to do is buy lunch to help empower women and fight human trafficking. Whew, lofty goals, and it can be done.

Freedom a la Cart is funded by doma, an international non-profit right here in Cbus intended to empower women caught in human trafficking. Through mentoring and job training, women move from victim to survivor, and Freedom a la Cart provides the environment to make it happen.

The women run a catering company on the fourth floor of the Downtown YMCA. (Did you know there was a big  ‘ol kitchen up there?). Boxed lunches cost just 10 bucks each and come with a delicious, handcrafted sandwich, house-made side, salty snack and a sweet treat. Orders are available for pick up at 20 W. Long Street, or Freedom a la Cart will deliver for a group. It’s an easy-breezy choice the next time you need to order boxed lunches for a noon-time gig.

If you want to give it a try before you order lunches for your next big event, they also run a juice bar in the lobby of the YMCA during from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Monday through Friday. Pick up a quick sandwich, salad or smoothie to go.

“Initially, people get caught by the cause, but then they get hooked with the food,” said Program Manager Annie Zeltman. “It’s a privilege to work with the survivors. These women are an inspiration, and the food of course is fantastic.”

The peeps at doma know that human trafficking is a huge problem, and it can be overwhelming to know how to help so they make it super simple – just buy lunch.

Like Downtown Columbus on Facebook to be entered to win lunch complements of Freedom a la Cart.