This is being posted to various blogs on the intarwebs. If you’ve seen this before, I apologize, but it is important.
Hastapeanut just posted this on The Black Drop Coffeehouse’s public blog, but for those of you that view EricIverson.Net but don’t read or know of The Black Drop Coffeehouse’s LJ, I’d like to make sure that you see it, too.
If you would like to donate and you don’t live in Bellingham, there is a PayPal button on the Finca Vista Hermosa blog, and you can do so directly, there. Please, if you can spare it, your help would be greatly appreciated.
If you’re a regular at The Black Drop Coffeehouse, you probably know that they support the relationship based coffee model. Generally, that means that when they can, they like to get the coffee directly from the source, because they are aware they are paying the workers a living wage. The owners and baristas of The Black Drop Coffeehouse are aware of the process from the tree to your cup, and they’re getting a superior product, both ethically and quality wise.
This is the case with their Guatemalan coffee, “Finca Vista Hermosa” that comes from a farm belonging to the family of their good friend, Edwin Martinez, who lives here in Bellingham.
They received word last week that tragedy struck the farm, and they’re determined to do what they can to help. Carlos, the gentleman who managed the farm, and his 16 year old son were coming back to the farm with supplies and the farm’s payroll. They were robbed by bandits, then murdered. Carlos was to be 47 this year, and his teenage son Edwin was the first in his family to go to high school. Carlos has left behind his wife, Juana, and 11 other children.
Here is the link for the Finca Vista Hermosa blog, with Carlos and Edwin’s story.
Here is an article about the tragedy written by Mark Prince at coffeegeek.com.
When Alexarc told the employees the news, they decided they would come together as a team and ask what they could do to help the farm. They came up with several options, and they want to ask for YOUR help, as well.
First off, next Tuesday, March 11th, the entire staff will be donating 100% of their tips for the day to the fund for Finca Vista Hermosa. All money they donate to the fund will go DIRECTLY to Edwin, and from there, directly to the farm for them to disperse.
They’re also going to be starting “Drop Dollars”, a way for you to contribute if you would like. Here’s how they will work. Each “Drop Dollar” will cost (I’m sure you can guess) ONE DOLLAR and the ENTIRETY of that dollar will go to the fund. If you choose to, you may use that “Drop Dollar” as a dollar off coupon towards any purchase, no problems, no worries. You can combine them for purchases, too, so if you have $1.85 and 2 “Drop Dollars” you’ve got yourself a large Mocha, $.17 and 2 “Drop Dollars” and you’ve got yourself a toasted bagel with cream cheese. (I think you see where I’m going with this.)
In addition, the Drop will be donating 50% of all sales on their Guatemalan coffee directly back to the farm, both as drip coffee and in bulk. Buy a $12 pound of drip coffee, and $6 will go to the fund.
They’d really like to be able to do something meaningful for these people who have lost so much. Rarely does an opportunity present itself where your help will be so needed and so directly impacting.
Talk to your friends, repost this on your LJ or blog if you’d like, pop into the Drop, and help them help some people who really really need it. Even if you don’t need a coffee, just drop a buck in the fund and let them thank you.
Thanks for your time, and see you at the Drop!
This has been a post from EricIverson.Net to LiveJournal.com
Editorial | coffee, Finca Vista Hermosa, The Black Drop
