VOCA Part 2

Unfortunately, many people who suffer from domestic abuse and sexual assault turn to alcohol and drugs to numb the pain of what is happening to them and easily develop a dependency. When they finally muddle through the chaos to get help, they were turned away from ALL the shelters because of substance abuse.

One courageous lady saw this gap in victim services and decided to take action. My kind of person! She founded the National Advocacy and Training Network and Support Education Empowerment DirectionS ( NATN and SEEDS), which addresses the health, safety, economic and social justice issues related to domestic violence, sexual assault and substance abuse through education, public awareness and direct services. In the SEEDS program, safe homes are provided for women to live in while they rebuild their lives. Whew! a tall order that needs, well... lots of money.

Besides writing grant proposals that don't guarantee results and asking for donations, said founder discovered a new way...a better way. In a previous post, I talked about the reduced funding in the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) and how one nonprofit agency has an innovative business model to help bring in funding while keeping with the mission of the service they provide. How are they doing this? By making a cup of joe.

Introducing Cup O' Karma Community Cafe for a Cause or COK for short and formally known as Into the Bean. For about a buck, this prosperous coffee house and popular college hangout was donated to NATN/SEEDs and has become a role model for nonprofit agencies across the country. To simplify things, COK brings in almost pure profit because there is no payroll. Employees are either volunteers or women from the SEEDS program. The SEEDS ladies get job training skills that help them build resumes. Most of the profit from COK goes back into funding NATN/SEEDS. Since the cafe is already established and makes fantastic mango smoothies, chocolate lattes, and awesome green tea fusions all served up with a warm smile, it's a win-win for everyone.

This is the kind of smart business model that produces sustainability for everyone: the nonprofit agency to keep services growing, the job skills for survivors to become financially independent, the caffeine and yummy concoctions to please customer demands--all through the free enterprise system rather than the political or donation system. Everyone involved contributes, not because they have to, but because they want to--talk about spreading the wealth around!




VOCA

COK (Into the Bean)

NATN/SEEDS