After a long, cold night braving the elements, a hot cup of coffee can warm the soul for those living on the streets.
So it was heartbreaking for staff and clients at the Upper Room Mission after one of the most well-used appliances recently broke down: their coffee maker.
“It’s so cold out and people just want coffee all day,” said Cera Brown at the URM. “They’ve been outside all night.”
See related: Vernon homeless numbers rise
Instant coffee was served for a while as the URM wondered how it would replace the industrial machine that so many relied on.
Thankfully, a call from a local business with a $1,000 donation couldn’t have come at a better time.
Summit Financial staff had been raising money all year with their Jean Day Friday initiative and had a cheque ready for the Upper Room Mission.
“So with Summit, and we worked a deal with Canterbury, we were able to serve coffee again,” said Brown.
Summit staff were delighted to hear that the donation came at a perfect time.
“The people need coffee just to get going in the morning and warmed up,” said Summit’s Angie Kornelius.
See also: Fundraiser succeeds in bringing wagons to Vernon’s homeless
Coffee is actually one of the items most sought after but rarely donated to the URM. Therefore those interested in warming some of the community’s most vulnerable this winter are urged to donate coffee.
@VernonNews
jennifer@vernonmorningstar.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.