A passionate Gympie resident has brought the suspended coffees initiative to town and it has already begun gaining traction within the community.
Naomi Wilson, who first got the idea while traveling in Vancouver, has introduced the concept of suspended coffees with the goal of providing a small yet meaningful act of kindness to those in need.
The idea of a suspended coffee is to help those who are not in a position to afford a cup of coffee themselves. In Gympie, it will work by simply walking into a participating coffee shop, ordering two coffees and asking for one to be suspended. If you’re feeling extra generous you might even order a few!
The friendly staff will then place a ticket into a jar displayed on the counter, so that when someone in need comes into the shop they can see that there are suspended coffees available. You will be able to recognise participating businesses through a sign in the window.
Since first introducing the idea to local cafes around three weeks ago, Naomi now has over 12 businesses on board. She said that she was confident in its success from the beginning since she has seen firsthand the community’s extraordinary generosity.
“Having been here for pretty close to three decades I would have banked on it working, because I just know how insanely generous Gympie people can be. It blows my mind often when I’m doing my projects just how thoughtful people are in what they give.”
The participating cafes have embraced the idea and customers are now able to purchase a suspended coffee, with some cafes also offering the option to purchase a suspended sandwich.
Locals have begun showing their support, purchasing suspended coffees and even specifically choosing to dine at participating venues.
One of the participating businesses is The Beacon Cafe on Mary St. Manager, Peta Watson said from the moment she was approached with the idea she has been on board, labeling it as a fantastic endeavor for the community.
Peta said her staff are telling everybody they can and they expect the concept to become quite successful, “if we can get the word out and people know what it is, we’ve already seen signs of generosity in Gympie… so I think Gympies got a good heart… I think it will definitely take off and help the people that can’t afford to just go and enjoy a coffee.”
The list of participating venues currently includes, Gympie Gold Mining and Historical Museum Cafe, The Gold Bean at the Friendly’s Supermarket, Regal Coffee Bar, The Beacon Cafe, Mamma Dee’s Kitchen, Coco Blush, Smooth Brew Cafe, The Hatch Specialty Coffee, D’ Cafe Southside, Farmer and Sun, Mooloo Produce, Toucan Coffee, and the Wishlist Coffee House at the hospital.
Some cafe owners were concerned about customers who may try to take advantage of the system; however, Naomi is hoping that no one in the community would do that, but says each business can use their discretion when handing out suspended coffees.
She explained that when someone tries to take advantage of the system by taking a free coffee when they can really afford to purchase one, they’re taking it out of the hands of someone who truly needs it.
The initiative is designed as a bit of a pick me up for those in need. Whether you need to get out of the house, have a conversation with a friendly face, or need a moment to yourself away from screaming kids – suspended coffees are a way to provide a small mental break to those who haven’t previously been able to afford it.
The suspended coffee initiative is a way to show those in the community who may feel alone in their struggle that there are people out there willing to help. “If you’re having a really bad day, to know that somebody in the community has forked out $6.50 just for you and they’re not actually expecting anything back for it, they’re not expecting you to thank them or have any great affirmation of how wonderful they are… you can’t put a price on something like that,” said Naomi.
The success of the concept already has shown the true spirit and heart of Gympie’s community. People’s willingness to help others has Naomi confident that the initiative will not only take off, but continue for years to come.
