Whether you like yours with cream and sugar or just black, coffee is a hot topic in Cook County.
And never more so than when two coffee providers and a graphic design company get together to raise funds for those in need.
The Sisu Coffee Project is a collaboration between Fika Coffee, Java Moose, and Hoaglund Designs. The trio got together early last summer and came up with a plan. If someone bought a bag of Sisu coffee, $10 would go back to support the community’s immediate needs.
For those of us who aren’t Finnish, Sisu means to keep fighting against all odds when others have given up.
Sisu coffee is a blend of coffee from Central America (Mexico and Guatemala). Each 12-ounce bag costs $20, but ten dollars goes to the community for things like groceries, boxes of diapers, or rent assistance.
“We’ve received an incredible amount of support from the community and those who love the area, and there has been a lot of interest from folks about where the money has been going, said Hannah Hoaglund, who provided a recap of the finances.
“As of January 20, we’ve sold 1,980 bags, raising almost $20,000 to support people in Cook County with everyday, immediate needs,” Hoaglund said. “We’ve used almost $11,000 of that to:
Assist a mother in buying a car to help her get to and from work.
Purchase 43 – $100 gift certificates to Johnson’s Food to help local families and individuals buy groceries.
With the help of other generous individuals, help outfit six children with warm winter gear.
Pay a past due mental health bill for an individual to the local clinic.
Pay a portion of a medical bill for an individual.
Assisted with some school and tutoring costs.
While most are familiar with Java Moose and Fika Coffee, not all might know about Hoaglund Designs.
Hoaglund Designs is a graphic design business that Hannah started in 2018. “Through my work, I help businesses use visual branding to build trust and connect with their target market. I specialize in packaging and print design, so part of my role in the Sisu coffee project has been to design the coffee bag.”
Fika owner Josh Lindstrom has long been involved with supporting community near and far through sales of Fika coffee. Likewise, Anna Jorgenson and her family, who own and operate Java Moose, are strong proponents of community and have given their time, talents, and money to support many efforts to better the local populace.
“We feel so grateful for the support we’ve received and for those who have purchased the coffee,” Hoaglund said. “We encourage anyone who is aware of individuals or families with immediate needs in this community to let us know so we can continue supporting each other. Folks can nominate someone at sisucoffeeproject.com.”
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