A small town with a big heart could be Lumbysa国际传媒檚 motto.
When it comes to sharing with those less-fortunate, the residents of the small town on Highway 6 donsa国际传媒檛 hesitate.
The latest program embraced by residents is Suspended Coffee. A suspended coffee is a pre-paid coffee or other menu item in a restaurant or coffee shop that you purchase and is then held for someone in need.
sa国际传媒淚t goes back awhile ago when Katie Salter asked if we had the program here, which we didnsa国际传媒檛, but I thought it was a fantastic idea,sa国际传媒� said Debra Drewry, administrator for Lumbysa国际传媒檚 Around the Block Facebook page. sa国际传媒淭hrough the page, others started responding, including Audrey Harron with Milliesa国际传媒檚 Kitchen, who said theysa国际传媒檇 love to support the idea. Audrey and I worked on a flyer to get it up and running, and then other businesses started to get involved.sa国际传媒�
Drewry, who moved to Lumby about a year and a half ago, said everyone she contacted was enthusiastic about participating. She said Lumby typically doesnsa国际传媒檛 have many people who are homeless, but there are many living on low incomes, and those making use of the program could be a student who forgot their lunch or someone who just wants to enjoy a cup of coffee but cansa国际传媒檛 afford it.
sa国际传媒淭his is an unbelievable community, and this has become such a huge part of the community,sa国际传媒� she said.
Milliesa国际传媒檚 Kitchen owner Euan Harron said when the idea was put forward by Salter, he and his staff were happy to support it.
sa国际传媒淚t sounded like a nice program designed for local people that were in need of a little help to deal with a bad day or get over some challenges that they may be facing, an extension of other sa国际传媒榩ay it forwardsa国际传媒� initiatives that we hear of,sa国际传媒� said Harron. sa国际传媒淚 suppose the main reasons for us were that it was a local program, and that did not demand significant resources to be able to support it.sa国际传媒�
Harron said like all good things, it is a simple program, and anyone can leave anything they like for a customer in need, from soup and a bun to a full dinner, or more if they wish.
In addition, Milliesa国际传媒檚 Kitchen adds an additional item for every three of something left, so if you paid for three coffees, or three soups, the restaurant would add a fourth to the list.
sa国际传媒淢anaging the program is also simple sa国际传媒� we keep a sheet of paper with what is contributed and therefore available, and then the date it was taken when it is used by someone,sa国际传媒� said Harron. sa国际传媒淥ne nice thing that we have seen is that both locals and visitors have donated. People have said they like the idea sa国际传媒� sometimes they have a coffee added to their bill, sometimes they leave $5 or $10, which we then turn into something on the list.sa国际传媒�
Harron said the program can be used by anyone, without fear of being questioned or judged
sa国际传媒淲e have no idea what they may be facing,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淚f someone asks if there is anything available we will let them know, and they may then ask for one of the items.
sa国际传媒淲e have also given an item if someone is simply struggling with the day for whatever reason, if it helps cheer them up and they leave feeling better about the world, we think itsa国际传媒檚 a worthwhile use. Some are struggling with a current issue, some are struggling with their longer-term situation.sa国际传媒�
Harron said Lumby is a giving community, with people regularly volunteering to help in any number of programs, covering costs or donating items to help out here and there.
sa国际传媒淚 think the community is essentially long-standing and naturally sees and takes on the need to help and support those within itself in times of difficulty,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淭his is even true of new members sa国际传媒� in fact the first person to pay into the program had recently moved from Alberta.sa国际传媒�
In addition to Milliesa国际传媒檚 Kitchen, there are a number of Lumby businesses participating in the Suspended Coffee program, including Take Two Dinner and a Movie, Sisters Restaurant, Jitter Beans Coffee House and Lumby Health Foods.
