New nonprofit to carry on Coffee Connections’ mission

Launched in 2001 as a café and a place of work for women recovering from addiction, Coffee Connection navigated numerous challenges over more than two decades until the nonprofit organization decided this summer to cease operations.

However, a few former employees intend to breathe new life into its mission of creating jobs and training women for recovering from addiction.

“The three of us could not see how we could let this mission go. It has helped us so much in our daily lives and our recovery,” says Stacey Pum. “We want to be able to give back and give other women in recovery from addiction the support and guidance that we have so graciously received from this much-needed mission.”

Coffee Connections decided to end operations due to high payroll expenses—there were about 12 employees at the time. Half were let go and another two employees found jobs elsewhere. The executive director who took over from longtime leader Joy Bergfalk also left earlier this year.

Financial hardship was ongoing for years, Pum says, with the COVID-19 pandemic particularly hard on the nonprofit business. Although there was a push for more donation events, such as an evening with Garrison Keillor, it was not enough to keep Coffee Connections afloat.

The new organization, Our Blend Coffee & Roastery, will continue to aid women in recovery through workforce development and training. Its approach will roll back the staff size. Even so, it will continue to sell both wholesale and retail coffee while also emphasizing communication and creating solidarity among its workers.

One of the elements of success for Coffee Connections was that women in recovery were empowered to run the business. Within their ranks, a supportive network was created with partners who can truly understand the challenges and triumphs of recovery.

“You know, it gives value and worth when you have the ability to do a job and run it on your own,” says Cheryl Frank, who served on the Coffee Connections board and is preparing a charity walk in November to support Our Blend. “I’m a woman, and I may not be addicted to something that’s going to hurt me, but I understand what they’ve been going through and that this really does help save lives.”

Pum, who worked with Coffee Connections for 13 years, says she has registered the new nonprofit, but is still working through the employee training, permitting, and inspections required to open the facility at Marketplace Mall (one of two sites Coffee Connections had operated) under the new organization.

Other former Coffee Connection supporters, including board members John Messenger and John Butrill, have provided pro bono assistance on the legal and business advisory aspects.

“Without the two of them believing in the three of us and this mission, we would not be able to do this,” Pum says.

As of late August, she was still looking to raise $15,000 for startup costs. This will be allocated to various aspects of the business, including registering the physical space for roasting, cleaning the vents, and developing a website for online sales.

The benefit walk, scheduled for November, is also a continuation of the support provided to Coffee Connections. Frank says that it made sense to keep the tradition alive since walkers were used to supporting the mission, which Our Blend will carry on.

“It just made sense to continue it again this year. And we won’t be competing with the Bills game,” Frank adds with a laugh. “I don’t know what (Our Blend) is going to do with their board, but I’m like, ‘Guys, I’m supporting you until you do figure it all out.’”

Our Blend is planning to have a smaller, “more manageable” scope within its means with less reliance on donations and grants once it is operational.

The Coffee Walk to Benefit event will be held Nov. 2 at the Messiah Lutheran Church. Registration will begin at 11:45 with quarter-mile and full-mile walks starting at 12:30.

Jacob Schermerhorn is a Rochester Beacon contributing writer and data journalist.

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