Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

THE VIC DOWNTOWN

Kamloops coffee roasters partner with Elizabeth Fry Society to help raise funds

May 13, 2021 | 5:04 PM

KAMLOOPS — There’s nothing quite like that first cup of coffee in the morning. Kazia Poore, floor manager at The Vic in downtown Kamloops, provides that special feeling for dozens of customers a day.

“Probably my favourite part about coffee is that it brings people together,” Poore says.

According to co-owner Todd Mason, The Vic has always done its best to source ethically-grown coffee. That’s why they started bringing beans grown by female farmers in Peru.

“It’s just a better bean, all in all,” Mason explains. “[The female farmers] do better for themselves, and their country. They do better for their communities. They’re not competing as hardcore, as they’re getting together a bunch of farmers and helping each other out. Which, of course, increases the quality.”

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That sparked an idea for Mason. He reached out to the Kamloops and District Elizabeth Fry Society to form a partnership.

“Ten per cent [of the proceeds] of every bag sold of the Bright & Lively, the women’s cooperative, is going to the Family Stepping Stones program,” Mason says.

Elena Markin, Fund Development Coordinator with E Fry, is thrilled with the partnership. “I really love how he thought of connecting women who are making this very high-quality coffee, feeding their families, and us at the Kamloops and District Elizabeth Fry Society,” Markin says.

The Family Stepping Stones Program provides women and children fleeing violence with safe, supportive housing. In other shelter situations, keeping families together isn’t always guaranteed. “They can actually stay with their children and keep custody of their children,” Markin explains. “This is very important for them.”

The Vic has always roasted the coffee they serve and sell in-house. For Kazia Poore, who does most of that roasting, supporting women in the Kamloops community through selling coffee grown by women makes perfect sense.

“We get our beans from a lot of women’s co-ops. Our entire upstairs staff is women. I’m learning to roast, the proceeds are going to women,” Poore says. “It’s nice that it’s made more accessible to everyone.”

If you’re interested in supporting the local Elizabeth Fry Society, you can pick up a bag of the Bright & Lively Coffee at The Vic downtown, or at Nu-Leaf Market on the North Shore.