Change is often achieved in baby steps, by ONE person at a time . . . and now, in the case of an innovative Langley business, by ONE bean at a time.
Founded almost three years ago, ONEbean Coffee Company helps non-profit and community organizations by reducing their dependence on sporadic donations, helping them build a constant stream of revenue through the sale of certified organic fair trade coffee, tea, and chocolate.
“Our focus is on helping local organizations,” said ONEbean president Allan Klassen.
But because the company uses only fair trade products, support goes well beyond Langley and the Lower Mainland.
For every pound of coffee bought, ONEbean donates its proceeds to a host of non-profit partners, including KidSport, which gives grants that cover the cost of registration fees for one season of sport for children whose families can’t afford them.
Some grants may also cover the cost of equipment, youth leadership opportunities, sport camps and travel costs. Proceeds are used to help provide proper accommodation for children who live in garbage dumps, and for programs that rescue girls as young as four from prostitution in Guatemala.
As ONEbean’s focus is global, its ‘giving back’ program also helps needy people in the countries from which the company buys its coffee. To mention a few: ONEbean’s 100 per cent Arabica Swiss Water Decaf coffee comes from Peru, where the beans are hand-picked and washed on a small co-operative farm; Full City, a dark bean grown in small co-ops by indigenous people in Peru and Mexico; and from Nicaragua, Peru, Sumatra and Brazil comes medium-dark espresso, grown on small farms by native people.
The company’s giving back program has recently been placed under the “ieffectchange.com” umbrella.
Among its key partners are Tega Tea, Jiggy.TV — live Internet television, Comino chocolate and BLK Beverages.
Klassen explained that individuals buy the coffee, tea, chocolate or water for personal use at home, companies buy for the office coffee machine, and non-profit organizations buy in bulk to sell in fundraisers.
So the more ONEbean coffee is bought, the steadier the stream of income to charities and non-profit groups.
Coming soon to Langley: ONEbean program in local schools.
“Sports teams and schools can also get in on the action,” Klassen said, adding that ONEbean will customize labels on packs of coffee to promote fundraising ventures.
ONEbean Coffee is seeking community conscience restaurants, cafes and businesses that would be willing to switch their coffee purchasing to help their local community, he added.
People can buy the ONEbean counter-pack which includes a 20-bag selection of dark roast, medium roast, decaf and espresso coffee.
ONEbean is located at #108, 20486 64 Ave., (next to Spa Utopia).
Phone 604-897-6551, and visit www.onebeancoffee.com.
ONEbean Coffee won the City of Surrey business excellence awards in 2010 and 2011.
For the month of September, ONEbean Coffee is offering a free box of Tega tea (organic rooibos) with the purchase a 1lb bag of coffee. This offer is for walk-in customers only.
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What is fair trade coffee?
Fair trade refers to an international social movement that ensures farmers receive a fair price for tea, coffee, cocoa, sugar, honey, bananas, as well as chocolate and flowers.
Fair trade practices help stop child labour, create healthy workplaces and support community development, and build infrastructure such as wells for water.
