The Reach Caf茅 is a specialty pop-up coffee shop with a cause. The caf茅鈥檚 committee works alongside the United Church in Oxbow and Alameda to create a welcoming space for all.
The Mercury spoke to the Reach committee and the baristas about the caf茅鈥檚 success, mission in the community and future plans.
The Reach Caf茅, a non-profit, has been operating using grant money from the United Church of Canada since February 2019. The caf茅 is located in the basements of the United Churches in Oxbow and Alameda, where they welcome the community.
Recently, the Reach Caf茅 was closed for three weeks due to increased COVID-19 cases in the area, but is excited to have their doors open once again.
鈥淭his is our second week open. It was a good week back. We鈥檝e had some pretty good traffic. We have some new drink items, so there have been regulars in to see what鈥檚 different,鈥� said barista Megan Andersen.
The caf茅鈥檚 goal has always been to build connection in the community, so all items are pay by donation. Committee member Anita Warner explained that when the grant money was initially received, they wanted to meet a need within the community. Together, the committee agreed that it was missing an accessible specialty coffee shop.
鈥淣ow more than ever, people need ways to connect, and this is a way that we can offer our building because otherwise, it would be sitting empty right now. I think we are called to share with the world,鈥� said Warner.
With the help of Michel Ellis of Michael鈥檚 Coffee Shop and Bakery in Carlyle and Estevan, Penny Lasy and Megan Andersen became trained baristas. The Reach Caf茅 also sources its coffee beans from Michael鈥檚. Reach feels that they are creating a demand for specialty coffee all across the southeast corner.
鈥淲hen we started, there were many people who had never had a latte or a cappuccino.鈥�
It is also a value of the Reach Caf茅 to source local items, with almost everything they use and sell being Canadian-made.
The committee recently received its last year of funding through the grant from the United Church. This means that eventually, they may have to set menu prices. However, they emphasized that there will always be an option to pay by donation.
鈥淚 want people to know that there is a place to gather. If you have no money, you can still come here and have a drink. We鈥檙e not looking at how much people donate, but we鈥檙e hoping that people who can put in money and can be generous will, so that the caf茅 can continue. It鈥檚 kind of like a community trust in that we share as we are able,鈥� expressed Warner.
A notable priority of the Reach Caf茅 is to be an inviting space for people of all gender identities, sexual orientations, nationalities, and religions. Rev. Jackie van鈥檛 Voort shared how this value aligns with the mission of the caf茅.
鈥淥ne of the things that we aim to do with this is to break those barriers and stereotypes down so that people can feel welcome coming into the building. Sometimes I think that people see a church and they go, 鈥極h, I can鈥檛 go there.鈥� What we鈥檙e saying is yes, you can. Come have a coffee,鈥� van鈥檛 Voort said.
Van鈥檛 Voort said the Reach Cafe is part of a larger vision for the community and is the foundation of other potential initiatives in Oxbow and Alameda.
鈥淭he mission and the goal of the Reach Caf茅 is to be a place where people can reach out to one another, they can be in touch with one another, and it鈥檚 a safe space. The fact that the church has this space available and is willing to give it so freely is our way of saying to the communities, we鈥檙e here, and we support you. We want to give you what you need, but we also need you to tell us what you need, so here鈥檚 a space and here鈥檚 an opportunity to do that.鈥�
The Reach Caf茅 would like to acknowledge the hard work of all committee members, including Kathleen Rae, Heather Tober, Mike Meyer, Margaret Pool, Sara East and Rayanne Freitag.
The Reach Caf茅 is open on Tuesdays in Oxbow and Wednesdays in Alameda from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Oxbow on Thursdays from 6-8 p.m.. You can view their full menu on their Facebook page and follow their Instagram, @the_reach_cafe to receive updates.
