Shoppers find new perks at coffee bar: give back as part of daily grind

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AUSTIN, Texas (Nov. 16, 2011) —For less than a dollar, shoppers can fund a special needs school in Kenya, reduce waste and preserve their morning java – all at once – when they purchase a L.I.F.E. Jacket reusable cup sleeve with anyAllegro Coffeebeverage atWhole Foods Market.

VIDEO: See how the program directly impacts mothers and children in Kenya

All 99 cents from every handmade canvas sleeve sold goes to nonprofitComfort the Children International(CTC) to empower Kenyan mothers to earn a living and ensure a sound education for their children. L.I.F.E. stands for Livelihood, Invest, Future, Empower – which is what the nonprofit aims to provide for poor mothers and children in rural Kenya.

“Buying a L.I.F.E. Jacket saves so much more than your coffee,” said Zane Wilemon, founder and executive director of CTC. “Many Kenyans believe that giving birth to a child with disabilities is punishment for committing a crime, and grounds to shun a mother and child from the community. Job opportunities become scarce and there’s no place for their children in public school. Through L.I.F.E. Jacket sales, CTC is putting an end to that vicious cycle.”

In 2008, CTC founded the first school for special needs children in the Kenyan Rift Valley, where students have since learned to walk, read, write and enjoy a healthy environment with other children. As an extension of the program, CTC added a tailoring room onto the school where they are teaching mothers how to sew the coffee sleeves and paying fair wages for their work. Through the program, mothers are regaining hope and self-respect, lifting their families out of poverty and – for the first time ever – sending their children to school.

“One small, split-second choice can bring a lifetime of change for a mother and her child across the globe,” said Jeff Teter, president and general manager of Allegro Coffee Company. “We’re proud to offer shoppers this easy way to give back as they go about their daily routine.”