Coffee Circles of Support in Vermont

One of my great passions is fostering connections between the people I meet every day. My husband Rich pilots a private yacht and for years I worked by his side as a chef. Having met other captains and their wives I decided to hold a party to introduce all these folks with similar lifestyles and interests. After 14 years we are still all close friends.

Now that I live a slightly different life as the owner of a gourmet coffee roastery I still find myself fostering these connections. The other day I introduced Jeremy, a loyal customer who lives down the street to another client. Turns out these two men live in the same small town, work in the same industry as operational consultants, yet they had never met. They talked for over an hour.

As a business owner in rural Vermont, I want to have a positive impact on the community and the people. This isn't the politically correct copy I print in brochures. This is the purpose that gets me out of bed in the morning. I want to make a difference here in my own backyard.

I just discovered a non-profit, Burlington based organization called Neighborkeepers that uses a "Circles of Support" model to build a stronger community to fight poverty and help local families meet their needs. Among the things they do are to coach members, share resources, and help with job training. I called when I saw a flier for a recent potluck dinner over in Johnson. Their next meeting (with childcare included) takes place in Winooski on December 1st.

I'm already talking with some different community members about what we can do right here in Cambridge. What are your thoughts and passions? I know this is a blog on coffee, but for me coffee and community are intricately woven together. And I wouldn't want it any other way.

Until our next cup,
Sandy Riggen