Good food, good cause: Global Goods and Coffee Shop

Global Goods and Coffee Shop opened this spring in Olde Town Arvada with all the trappings of a coffeehouse -- but with a different goal. Global Goods is run by an international nonprofit organization, Global Refuge, that provides immediate aid where it is needed, without getting tangled up in the...

By Trevor Andersen

June 25, 2013

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Global Goods and Coffee Shop opened this spring in Olde Town Arvada with all the trappings of a coffeehouse -- but with a different goal. Global Goods is run by an international nonprofit organization, Global Refuge, that provides immediate aid where it is needed, without getting tangled up in the bureaucratic process. Current initiatives include providing water to Syrian refugees, sending water-purification supplies to Lebanon, supporting resettlement and feeding programs in Uganda, and training and treating malaria-affected communities. Global Goods aims to help the cause by raising awareness, selling goods made by refugees, and generating funding.

The coffee shop and store occupy a historic bungalow that was the home of the first mayor of Arvada, and most recently was the PeaceJam office. There's a big patio and porch, a comfortable front room, an upstairs area with desks and a conference room that can be reserved.

Global Goods is owned and managed by the heads of Global Refuge, but the gears wouldn't turn if it weren't for the volunteers, who each spend at least four hours a week working behind the counter or in other parts of the cafe.

Trevor Steldt, for example, has a background working in offices but volunteers to make coffee in the more relaxed environment of Global Goods. And there's always room for more help, according to fliers taped around the cafe. Keep reading for more photos of Global Goods. The cafe is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday; find more information on the Global Goods and Coffee Shop Facebook page.

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