Coffee with a Cause returns to Ironworks in Othello
CASEY MCCARTHY | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 years, 12 months AGO
Cinnamon rolls are iced in the kitchen of Ironworks Cafe & Market in Othello on Sunday morning for the Coffee with a Cause event.
Casey McCarthy/Columbia Basin Herald
Vicki Hollenbeck, left, orders a pair of cinnamon rolls as Caden Lewis totals everything up at the Othello First Presbyterian Church's Coffee with a Cause event in Othello on Sunday.
Caden Lewis mans the counter at Othello Presbyterian Church's Coffee with a Cause event Sunday.
Volunteers package and ice cinnamon rolls at Othello Presbyterian Church's Coffee with a Cause event Sunday.
By CASEY MCCARTHY
Staff Writer
OTHELLO — High school and middle school students from Othello First Presbyterian Church, partnered with Ironworks Cafe & Market for the church’s annual Coffee for a Cause event on Sunday.
Coffee and cinnamon rolls were served by students and volunteers on Sunday morning, with the money going toward the church’s “Soul2Sole” fundraiser. Proceeds from the event go to buy shoes for elementary age children in the Othello school system.
Shelly Kensler, a volunteer with the church, was helping out at the event on Sunday. Kensler said $973 was raised from the Coffee for a Cause event. While it wasn’t as much as last year, she said, she was very grateful for the support and generosity of the community members that were able to come.
She said she expected the numbers to be down a bit this year with Sunday crowds and gatherings limited.
“We decided to do it anyway because we don’t want to give up the momentum,” Kensler said.
Kensler said the church has been involved with this event for a while, and switched from Christmas donation baskets to the Soul2Sole fundraiser last year. She said they wanted to support the children in their own community.
“There’s a great need there,” Kensler said.
That need is only greater this year with everything going on surrounding COVID-19, she said. The money raised will go toward Amazon gift cards that will be distributed to counselors at the elementary schools in Othello.
Kensler said Sunday’s event also offers a great volunteering opportunity for the youth in the church to help out others in their own community. Erika Rattray, owner of Ironworks Cafe in Othello, grew up attending Othello First Presbyterian Church herself.
“It’s a great way to give back because I love seeing the high schoolers raise money for things that can help out in the community,” Rattray said.
Rattray has opened up her cafe on Sunday the past few years to allow the high school students and volunteers to come host the event. She said she’s glad to be able to give back, and added it’s a nice opportunity for the kids to see how the business works in case they want a high school job some time.
Casey McCarthy can be reached via email at cmccarthy@columbiabasinherald.com.
