I was recently driving through Oxford, Maine on the hunt for a breakfast sandwich when I stumbled into Daddy O’s. What I thought would be just a classic Maine diner slinging eggs and bacon turned out to be the most philanthropic restaurant I’ve had the pleasure of finding.

It will now be my life's mission to make sure every resident of Maine knows about this incredible place. Good luck having a conversation with me from this moment forward without me mentioning “Daddy O’s”.

Daddy O’s Restaurant in Oxford, Maine

Upon first glance, Daddy O’s is a classic diner with an old-school feel and old-school prices. It’s the type of breakfast joint where you walk in, see the black and white checkered floor and 50’s diner stools and just trust what the cooks have going on in the back. You just know whatever you order is going to be good.

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The walls are adorned with more than 2,000 license plates from customers representing all 50 states and 13 countries, adding to the original aesthetic of the space.

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But this restaurant is so much more than a place for good vibes and great breakfast potatoes; it’s a life preserver for the community.

Daddy O’s Act of Kindness Foundation

What initially caught my eye about the restaurant was the self-serve food pantry they had in the foyer. As soon as we walked in, we saw bins filled with food and diapers with a sign that said “TAKE WHAT YOU NEED! GIVE WHAT YOU CAN.”

There were all sorts of different resources in the bins and it immediately warmed my heart.

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I knew right away that I wanted to write an article about it. I went to their website just so I could tell you guys about the menu but found something way more important: Their mission to serve the community through more than just a food pantry.

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As you can read on their website, the restaurant focuses on people over profit. They run the Daddy O’s Act of Kindness Foundation which involves the no-questions-asked self-serve food pantry, diaper drives, annual car show fundraisers, events for the Special Olympics, food drives on holidays, and community dinners.

Giving Back to The Community

Since 2015, the restaurant has raised more than $100,000 which has gone directly back into the Oxford Hills and surrounding communities.

Their annual “12 Days of Christmas” in 2021 resulted in them handing out $16,500 to area food pantries and other non-profits. During Thanksgiving of 2021, they handed out almost 500 meals to residents in need. Their 2020 Annual Car Show raised more than $13K for the Oxford County Special Olympics. The list goes on…

Coming up this month on April 28, they will be hosting a community dinner with a spaghetti meal for anyone who needs a meal. They’ll be serving food from 4 - 6 p.m. for anyone who wants to stop by and eat a free meal!! If you do choose to donate, the proceeds go right to Camp Sunshine.

I am in awe!! It warms my heart to see a business putting so much love and good in the community but then it also makes me kind of sad that this isn’t the norm. Why don’t we do this everywhere? Why can’t we all just take care of our neighbors and look out for one another?

This is an important reminder that there is still good in this world, there are genuinely good people. I hope this article serves not only as that reminder, but as a resource for those in the community who can benefit from Daddy O’s, and even more, I hope it serves as inspiration for other businesses to give back to our communities that need it.

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