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January 30, 2017 - 8:00 PM
LUMBY - A community in the North Okanagan is spreading a little warmth one cup of coffee at a time.
In Lumby, you can go into most restaurants and coffee shops and ask for a ‘suspended coffee’ in addition to your personal order. The suspended coffee is purchased in advance by the customer, and used later on for someone who needs it.
“If someone comes in and doesn’t have the money, they can ask for a suspended coffee,” Kyrsten Bilodeau, who works at Jitter Beans Coffee House, says.
The concept has been embraced around the world, and is believed to have originated in Naples, Italy, where coffee drinkers are known to order caffé sospeso (suspended coffee) as a gesture of kindness.
When a customer purchases a suspended coffee, or other item, the cashier records it on a coupon and uses it for someone in need.
Image Credit: Jitter Beans Coffee House
In Lumby, the idea was sparked when a local resident suggested it on an online forum.
“Everyone jumped on board with it,” Tina Matchett, the owner of Sisters Restaurant, says.
Local businesses have been participating in the Suspended Coffee program since the late summer. Matchett has already sold quite a few suspended coffees, as well as suspended soups, buns and other food. She loves having the items available to offer to those in need.
“You kind of know the people around town, they’ll sometimes come in to get out of the cold, just to sit. If we have a breakfast or a coffee available we can give it to them without people having to ask, without drawing attention,” Matchett says.
Euan Harron, owner of Millie’s Kitchen, says it’s been heartwarming to see the community embrace the concept.
“It’s not just one or two (businesses), it’s most people,” he says. “That’s fairly typical of the community.”
Ashlyn Lawrence, an employee at Take Two Dinner and a Movie, says so far, roughly one customer a week adds a suspended coffee or slice of pizza to their order, and the tradition seems to be growing in popularity.
“I definitely think people are becoming more aware of it,” she says. “It gives people a chance to give back. Everyone who comes in and participates always has a smile on their face.”
Lumby also has a care station and free food truck program, where people can donate food to those in need.
This poster lets customers know about the suspended coffee program.
Image Credit: Euan Harron
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News from © iNFOnews, 2017