State Fair Creates New Opportunities for The Roastery
Oliver Gospel's coffee social enterprise reaches thousands of new customers while raising money to support the Midlands homeless community.
The Roastery, Oliver Gospel's coffee social enterprise, served as the official coffee vendor of the 2023 South Carolina State Fair. Fairgoers from across the state were treated to locally roasted coffee and learned more about Oliver Gospel's programming for individuals experiencing homelessness.
In total, The Roastery sold over 2,700 cups and 300 bags of coffee throughout the 12-day event. Thanks to these generous customers, over 60 men, women, and children experiencing homelessness in the Midlands will be provided with one full month of meals, shelter, and resources at Oliver Gospel.
Gabbee Bagby, The Roastery's Director of Operations, said that she was extremely grateful for the opportunity to connect with the community and inform customers of the impact their purchase was making on neighbors in need in the Midlands.
"Within moments of hearing that statement, our community not only enjoyed their cup of coffee, but they donated additional funds because they wanted to be a part of Oliver Gospel's mission to transform lives through the power of Christ's love," Bagby said.
The event created new opportunities for volunteers to get involved with the Mission. 60 individual volunteers helped The Roastery prepare and serve coffee, logging a total of 330 hours of service!
Nancy Smith, President of the South Carolina State Fair, said that coffee from The Roastery was a great addition to pair with established vendors, and benefitting Oliver Gospel's cause made the partnership even sweeter.
"I called this 'God moving in his mysterious ways' when he put us together, and now look where we are," Smith said.
You can learn more about The Roastery or purchase your own coffee by visiting their website.