Non-profit coffee roaster helping military veterans

[Natedog]

Just found this site that runs non-profit helping our USA military veterans, bought couple bags of their coffee to try too, dunno if it's good or not, but we'll see and they're on a good mission.
https://operationtotw.org

Found out about them here:
https://www.theepochtimes.com/mkt_mo...%2FXiqNqxoA%3D


Whole story if you don't want to click:

US News
Arizona Couple Gives Struggling Vets New Hope While Making Coffee
By Allan Stein
October 23, 2021 Updated: October 23, 2021

Leave no soldier behind—or out in the cold.

That’s been the motto of former U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Tom West with each pound of roasted coffee he’s bagged and sold as founder and president of Operation Transition Outside the Wire.

Based in Williams, Arizona, the new nonprofit launched in August. Its main purpose is to help struggling veterans stay off the streets and move on to better things.

Selling coffee is but a means to helping veterans reach their destination, he said.

“It’s really tough. Once you’re out on the streets,” West told The Epoch Times, the challenge is to “get yourself back off the streets.”

According to endhomelessness.org, 37,252 veterans were experiencing homelessness in 2020 amid the pandemic caused by the CCP virus. Half of them were living outside of shelters, while the vast majority—more than 90 percent—were men.

West and his partner in the nonprofit, Shannon Francis, both have witnessed first hand the plight of homeless veterans in California, as each morning the veterans would gather outside of their coffee shop in Long Beach.

They’d be given a free cup of coffee and any other help they needed. This continued until early 2020 when the shop was forced to close due to the pandemic.

“We got rid of our coffee shop at the end of March and we got rid of everything,” West said. “The pandemic just wiped us out.”

West said he got to know many of the homeless veterans personally. It often began with a friendly: “Hey, brother. Can you spare a free cup of coffee?”

Other veterans, however, were too proud to accept the couple’s help, because “the military teaches you to be tough,” he said.

“I was 17 when I went in. We see things we shouldn’t have to. We see death. When we get back to civilian life, it’s the inverse of that. We have to figure things out for ourselves.”

West and Francis eventually decided to leave California for Williams, Arizona, known for supporting veterans. The town’s iconic Route 66 downtown district seemed the perfect spot to launch a nonprofit like Operation Transition, he said.

The organization is currently undergoing major expansion on to a 130-acre ranch, situated on the outskirts of town.

Once it’s completed, the working ranch will host 25 large safari-style tents that will serve as homes for veterans and their families.

There will also be a coffee roasting and distribution facility located on site, a mess hall, educational labs, and a ministry setup, all nestled within a safe, structured environment.

Operation Transition currently produces around 8,000 pounds of prime roasted Guatemalan coffee—whole bean or ground—per month at the location. The organization ships to nine states.

West said the goal is to increase production to 15,000 pounds of roasted coffee per month and boost membership subscriptions to increase revenues.

All proceeds go to support transitional programs and other forms of assistance for veterans, he said.

West said each one-pound bag of coffee comes with an ornamental dog tag and logo for easy identification in participating stores. The price per bag is a $20 donation.

Right now, Operation Transition is helping three local veterans and their families move from service to civilian life.

Brendan Bosley of Owosso, Michigan, is among those receiving crucial support.

Bosley joined the Air Force in January of 2019. He served as an analyst while stationed in Alaska, he told The Epoch Times.

But when the number of analysts exceeded the demand, he found himself in a situation known as “overmand.”

With a heartfelt “Thank you for your service—see you later,” he was offered, and accepted, an honorable discharge in late August.

His situation has been dire ever since.

The 29-year-old veteran said he is almost out of money, living out of a hotel room in Williams accompanied by his fiancée, his terminally ill mother, and two children from a previous marriage.

His hope is to stabilize his situation and then look for a job.

“In my personal situation, I’ve got a lot of needs and everything is important,” Bosley said. “In my situation, I still need help.”

One day, Bosley noticed the big mural sign over the Operation Transition building that read “Freedom Is Not Free.”

Something told him to go inside.

There, he met West, who explained the many programs and services available for veterans.

Bosley is now getting the help he needs and is slowly putting his life back together thanks to Operation Transition.

“Coming to this town was the best thing I could have ever done. It has literally been a life-saver,” he said.

West and Francis said Operation Transition seeks to address the dual problem of veteran homeless and suicide on a personal and local level.

They see the crisis only getting worse as thousands of veterans face dishonorable discharge for refusing to comply with the military’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

Hopefully, the government will wake up and smell the coffee, and do more to help out these men and women who have served their country, Francis said.

West said more than 27 veterans commit suicide in America every day on a battlefield of homelessness and despair.

“In the military there is a saying ‘no man left behind’ and in these days some men get left behind.”

“We are trying to prevent them from going down the wrong road. We are stepping up in the right way,” giving veterans a sense of purpose, because “having purpose is a big thing in the military.”

[ScaleLifeNewbie]

Awesome story and awesome way to give back to the men who previously fought for our freedom. Good for you for supporting them

The vets in this country are so looked over, it's really disgusts me; especially since my grandfather sacrificed his life so his grandson could live in a free country. Kneeling for the flag, hating cops and doing the best they can, people trying to burn the heritage of the American people...of the American dream, and how all these people can live here in America when all they do is hate it blows my mind. Our freedom is THE ONLY reason you're able disrespect our flag.

Sorry for the rant

[svt923]

Originally Posted by ScaleLifeNewbie

The vets in this country are so looked over, it's really disgusts me;

Veterans aren’t overlooked, there is a severe lack of action that is the real problem. Too many people are out there claiming to support our troops and do nothing to support that claim other than use the military as a pawn in political and social arguments. There are many organizations doing great work and they need real support (financial and volunteer time) but partisan bullshit undermines their efforts.

Operation 11 Charlie is another fantastic cause that uses RC to help veterans dealing with PTSD and mental health issues. I know those dudes a bit and they work tirelessly to carry out their mission. Everyone involved there checks the BS at the door because it doesn’t serve any benefit to alienate anyone based on what they may or may not believe is right.

[Natedog]

Originally Posted by svt923

...Operation 11 Charlie is another fantastic cause that uses RC to help veterans dealing with PTSD and mental health issues. I know those dudes a bit and they work tirelessly to carry out their mission. Everyone involved there checks the BS at the door because it doesn’t serve any benefit to alienate anyone based on what they may or may not believe is right.

Very cool:


https://11charlie.com/