Milk Crate Cafe helps Salvos connect with community
Milk Crate Cafe helps Salvos connect with community
5 October 2016
Captains Neville and Jenny Hall, Palm Beach Elanora Corps Officers, have recently opened the Milk Crate Garden Cafe at the corps.
A good cup of coffee, cushioned milk crates, peaceful gardens and caring people to talk to are behind the popularity of a new ministry at The Salvation Army's Palm Beach Elanora Corps on Queensland’s Gold Coast.
The Milk Crate Garden Cafe, now in its second month of operation, is providing a safe and welcoming place for Connect Centre and Family Store clients, volunteers, mums who attend “Cheeky Monkeys” (similar to Mainly Music), the lonely, and community groups.
Captain Jenny Hall, Palm Beach Elanora Corps Officer, with Captain Neville Hall, saw the need for Connect clients to have somewhere to go when they were distressed or upset, and she wasn’t available to talk to them because of other clients waiting.
The Milk Crate Cafe is an ideal location to spending time talking with people over a coffee.
“It was a God thing,” she said. “I thought it would be good to have someone for them to chat to instead of just moving onto the next client. Our volunteer, Marie, is a bubbly and caring person who breaks through barriers and can chat with any client. She also makes coffees for other clients if I need to spend time with someone in particular.”
Volunteer Marie Gaiquy makes excellent coffee for all those who come to the cafe.
Importantly, the Palm Beach Elanora team always invites clients to come back for another coffee and a follow-up chat, and to let people know there is always somewhere safe and welcoming for them to come to.
The corps purchased a “decent coffee machine” through a community grant, and those who can donate a gold coin towards their coffee.
“This little cafe allows us to do what we’re passionate about – caring for people and embracing our local community,” said Captain Neville Hall. “It fits in with the missional concept of the Connect Centre. The space also allows others to get to know the people from the corps, see that fun things happen here, and needs can be met. We’re about Christ and Salvation, but doing life together with people shows them that – whether it takes days, weeks or even years.”
Captain Jenny commented that keeping the coffee affordable, and the surroundings calm, is part of creating a culturally relevant “coffee culture” at the corps.
“Recently, case workers from a local housing group brought their clients in for coffee and Marie was able to network with them and assist,” she said. “This is a good place for people to be.”
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