A lifeline in real time

In the heart of Aceh province in northwestern Sumatra, the Ketiara Cooperative, led by the remarkable Ibu Rahmah, is facing a crisis unfolding as we speak. This community of women-led farmers was devastated by the rare Cyclone Senyar over the Thanksgiving weekend, which caused catastrophic mudslides. Farms have been decimated, homes destroyed, and two vital bridges have been washed away, isolating entire villages and cutting off access to essentials like food, clean water, and electricity. Hundreds of people have died and hundreds more are still missing in their worst natural disaster since the 2004 tsunami.

Grace Farms, a cultural and humanitarian center in New Canaan, Connecticut, is the home of Grace Farms Tea & Coffee, a nonprofit-owned Certified B-Corp dedicated to ethical sourcing and giving back 100% of profits to end forced and child labor.

Right now, we’re turning that mission into immediate action through the Sumatra Resilience and Rebuilding Fund. Our partnership with the Ketiara Cooperative goes beyond procurement; it is a promise of mutual support. For now, each bag of Ketiara coffee sold provides $5 for essential relief: generators to restore electricity, Starlink internet access to break the isolation, and essential food supplies to sustain the most affected.

COFFEE LINKS THE COMMUNITY

But as we look ahead, this is not just an investment in resilience; it’s an acknowledgment that the road to recovery will be long. Within that journey, there lies an opportunity. It’s a chance for all of us to be part of rebuilding not just what was lost, but what can be stronger and more sustainable. This is where we can reimagine recovery as rebuilding the future, deeply connected to community values.

We often forget that a simple cup of coffee links us all. That cup is a bridge from our lives to the hands of farmers like these women in Sumatra, who cultivate the beans we enjoy every day. In moments of crisis, we’re reminded that we’re all connected by these global threads of community and care. Every contribution is not just about aid—it’s about honoring the human connections that sustain us and using this moment to build a future that reflects our shared values.

We invite everyone to be part of this model of micro-philanthropy. With every cup of coffee, you’re contributing not just to immediate relief, but to a vision of a world where rebuilding means innovating for a better future. This is the essence of Grace Farms Tea & Coffee: a commitment to support our partners and to help reimagine how we all come together to create lasting change.

Adam Thatcher is CEO and cofounder of Grace Farms Tea & Coffee.

source https://www.fastcompany.com/91462740/a-lifeline-in-real-time