Graham coffee shop donates 100% of profits to veteran’s organization

GRAHAM, N.C. (WGHP) — The owner of a new coffee shop in the Piedmont Triad wants to make sure veterans get the support they need.

If you’re driving through the Court Square roundabout in downtown Graham, you may notice the doors are finally open at The Commissary Coffee Shop.

A few sweet treats are made from scratch, but the mission of employees isn’t just feeding you. The money will be used to help veterans.

Sarima Gracia is an ambassador for the nonprofit Charlie Mike, which is the military code for “continue the mission.”

She says the organization trains dogs, some from local animal shelters for about six to eight weeks, to become therapy dogs for veterans for free.

100% of the profit made at the coffee shop will go towards the organization.

So it begs the question: How are they staying open? Gracia says through help from the community.

“Everybody that has gotten involved has become super helpful. And that’s how it makes sense. We’re able to … find cost savings and … continue the mission,” Gracia said.

The owner of the coffee shop and one of the founders of Charlie Mike Dustin Gladwell has been on a few missions himself.

He served in the Army National Guard for 12 years and knows how important it is for veterans to own service dogs post-deployment.

“Over the past couple of decades, we really got a good understanding of … post-traumatic stress or combat fatigue,” Gladwell said

“We all come back with something. We all come back as somewhat different people. I’ve always used the example that … I feel like I left something overseas in our tour, and I brought something different back with me,” Gladwell said.

Gladwell goes on to say that the PTSD veterans live with has varying degrees of severity. Most of the time, it’s a battle they fight in silence.

He believes the least we can do is show support for veterans in big ways.

The coffee shop is open Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If you’re interested in helping out with their mission, you can stop by their location or find out more information here.

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