The Salvation Army and 7-Eleven Australia have celebrated two million cups of coffee poured together at the Salvation Army Melbourne Project 614 Magpie Nest Cafe.
According to Melbourne Project 614 Commanding Officer Major Brendan Nottle, the first step in providing a hand to people experiencing hardship is often starting a conversation over a cup of coffee.
“The Salvation Army wants to make a difference for people doing it tough,” he says.
“Melbourne Project 614 here in Bourke Street came about to serve those who are struggling with homelessness and other challenges in the City of Melbourne.
“The Magpie Nest Cafe gives vulnerable people a place to drop in night and day. We sit down over a cuppa and start building a relationship to understand the services we can connect the client with.”
To celebrate the recent milestone, 7-Eleven has donated a second coffee machine.
“7-Eleven gave us one of their coffee machines in 2014,” says Mr Nottle. “They saw that by having a machine, it would allow us to spend more time to talking with clients.
“So, they installed the machine, and have been keeping it maintained, and stocked in beans and cups ever since.
“We’re really excited that 7-Eleven have been able to provide an additional machine, and also a single use cup recycling unit for our Magpie Nest Cafe. These machines have now poured two million cups of coffee.”
7-Eleven Australia CEO and Managing Director Angus McKay adds that his team is very proud to be able to support The Salvation Army as part of the Good Cause program.
“Homelessness is an issue that we are very aware of, and our team wanted to do something to help those they see around the stores,” he says.
“The first coffee machine was an obvious place to start. By providing something we are well set up to support, it gave the Salvos team more time to focus on clients.
“Since then, we’ve become more connected with the Salvos, as well as the work the team do at Melbourne Project 614.
“Our team volunteer in the cafe, they donate as part of our workplace giving, and they take part in donation drives.
“Our city store teams also pick up the phone to let the Salvos outreach teams know there’s someone nearby who might need help.”
