It’s a Friday morning and the third day Hope Hub has been open. A steady stream of hospital staff at Atrium Health Cleveland comes through the doors, ordering smoothies, coffee and other beverages to jumpstart the day.
Not only do they serve up iced and hot beverages, but a portion of the proceeds go directly back into supporting nonprofits in Cleveland County.
The menu includes lattes - both hot and iced - regular drip coffee, smoothies, tea lattes, bagged tea, frappes, Cubanos and lemonade cold brew.
They also sell bags of coffee and T-shirts.
JR Blanton, CEO of Hope House coffee, said they are freestanding non-profit, one of only a handful of coffee shop non-profits in the state, and they initially started in the basement of a church in Rutherford County. A year and a half ago, they opened their first coffee shop, Hope House, in Forest City. He said they started out as a way to raise funds, but they saw the opportunity to enter the market and took it. He said some of the proceeds go back into supporting the communities in which they exist.
“We give our profits to other nonprofits,” he said. “You create community through coffee."
The Forest City coffee shop supports transitional housing for women.
“We’re happy to be here in the hospital serving nurses, doctors and staff and be a bright spot in their day,” Blanton said.
He said Friday was their third day open, and it had gone even better than expected.
“Everybody has been overwhelmingly positive and excited to have us here,” he said.
Blanton said when they opened the location in the hospital, they decided to partner with Healthcare Foundation of Cleveland County.
“They do amazing work in the community,” he said.
The bags of coffee they sell are called Foundation Blend, highlighting that relationship with the nonprofit. Healthcare Foundation of Cleveland County addresses various health and wellness issues affecting residents. All funds go toward improving the wellbeing of the community, such as providing assistance to cancer patients, supporting Safe Kids Coalition, and awarding grants to innovative programs or initiatives that address healthcare concerns.
“It’s a great partnership,” said Dick Baker, executive director of the HealthCare Foundation. “We’re honored to be included with it. It’s a natural fit.”
He said the proceeds the foundation receives go into the general grant account.
“It helps keep that pipeline filled,” Baker said.
Blanton said the partnership between the two “organically happened.”
Hope Hub is open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“I can have this coffee and do good,” Baker said. “We call it coffee for a cause.”
This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: Coffee for a cause: New business offers more than a cup of Joe
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