Coastal Roots Hospitality announces 2026 Pick It Up — Pay It Forward nonprofit partners following more than $400,000 in donations since 2021

MONTEREY, Calif. — In advance of its sixth year of community investment — with more than $400,000 donated to local organizations — Coastal Roots Hospitality has announced additional nonprofit partners for its 2026 Pick It Up — Pay It Forward program.

Founded during the COVID-19 pandemic as an emergency response to support essential services amid widespread uncertainty, Pick It Up — Pay It Forward has evolved into a lasting force for good. Now entering its sixth year, the initiative serves as a cornerstone of Coastal Roots Hospitality’s philanthropic business model, transforming everyday takeout orders into consistent, reliable funding for nonprofits serving Monterey County. Pick It Up — Pay It Forward is one of several philanthropic pillars through which Coastal Roots Hospitality integrates community investment into its daily operations. To learn more about CRH’s broader commitment to giving back, visit coastalrootshospitality.com/community-involvement.

Through the program, 10 percent of every to-go order from CRH’s flagship restaurants — Montrio, Tarpy’s and Rio Grill — is donated directly to nonprofit partners on a rotating, two-month basis.

2026 Pick It Up — Pay It Forward partners

January/February: The Bridge Restoration Ministry
March/April: CASA of Monterey County
May/June: Monterey County Film Commission
July/August: Community Partnership for Youth
September/October: Monterey County Youth Museum (MY Museum)
November/December: Seneca Kinship Center
Each organization will receive funds generated during its designated giving period, allowing nonprofits to plan ahead and rely on predictable support rather than one-time donations.

Unlike traditional fundraising campaigns or annual check presentations, Pick It Up — Pay It Forward is embedded into Coastal Roots Hospitality’s daily operations. Every takeout order becomes a micro-investment in the community, creating a steady funding stream that helps nonprofits meet ongoing needs — from housing and youth advocacy to family stabilization and cultural enrichment.

“For us, this program represents more than a donation — it’s a partnership,” said CRH CEO Ken Donkersloot, joining his wife Mona as the driving force behind CRH’s “Faith, Family, Friends, and Food” motto. The organization believes that treating employees with care leads to exceptional guest experiences, and that inviting guests into the act of giving back strengthens the entire community.

That ethos is felt directly by the organizations served.

“Support from Pick It Up — Pay It Forward allows us to focus on families when they need us most, without worrying about where the next dollar will come from,” said a representative from Seneca Kinship Center. “This kind of consistent, community-driven funding has a real and lasting impact on the people we serve.”

Since its inception, the initiative has supported many other nonprofits across Monterey County, including: Monterey County Food Bank; Monterey Rape Crisis Center; Loaves, Fishes & Computers; Set Free Monterey Bay; the Monterey Firefighters Community Foundation; and more.

As the program enters its sixth year, it stands as a model for how local businesses can create meaningful, long-term impact through everyday actions.

“We wanted to build something lasting that connects our guests, our team and the organizations doing the hardest work in our community,” Donkersloot said. “Six years in, we’re proud that Pick It Up — Pay It Forward is still growing and still making a difference.”

For more information about Coastal Roots Hospitality and its commitment to community engagement, visit www.coastalrootshospitality.com or call (831) 647-1085.

Contact:
Coastal Roots Hospitality
Phone: (831) 647-1085
Website: www.coastalrootshospitality.com
Address: 2999 Monterey-Salinas Highway, Monterey, CA 93940

Individual Restaurants:
Montrio: (831) 648-8880 | montrio.com
Tarpy’s: (831) 647-1444 | tarpys.com
Rio Grill: (831) 625-5436 | riogrill.com

Coastal Roots Events & Catering:
(831) 655-2999 | coastalrootshospitality.com/events-and-catering