PORTLAND, Ore. - Panera Bread opened its third, non-profit "pay-as-you-go" community café this week in Portland. This is the third restaurant for the fast-causal chain, called Panera Cares. The two other restaurants in Clayton, Missouri, and Dearborn, Michigan, opened last year.

The Associated Press reports that Panera Cares is owned and operated by a nonprofit arm of the chain, Panera Bread Foundation. One of the goals of this charitable program is to ensure that everyone who needs a meal gets one. People are encouraged to take what they need and donate their fair share. The menu is consistent with the traditional Panera Bread menu. There are no prices or cash registers, only suggested donation levels and donation bins.

"The vision for the Panera Cares café was to use Panera??s unique restaurant skills to address real societal needs and make a direct impact in communities," explained Ron Shaich, Panera Bread??s co-founder and executive chairman, and president of the Panera Bread Foundation.

"At the end of the day," Shaich said, "this community café isn??t about offering a hand out. It??s about offering a hand up to those who need it."

The AP notes that, according to the foundation, 60 percent to 70 percent of café customers pay in full while 15 percent pay more, and another 15 percent pay less or nothing. For those who don??t pay, the café suggests that they volunteer with the foundation. Locations are chosen on the community's ability to support the café and accessibility to those it seeks to serve.

"In some ways it is a test for humanity," said Shaich, adding, "Will people step up and help each other or will they take advantage?"