Opportunities to Connect
It was advertised as a fun night of drinks, activities, and community. And the event lived up to its promise.
A Coffee and Cocktails fundraiser in early May at The Book Nook and Java Shop in Montague saw almost $1,000, including a portion of proceeds from the night, donated to Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, thanks to the generosity of the owners of the shop, Brooke and Andrew Kuharevicz.
The couple has a Deaf daughter, Lucy, and have been connected to D&HHS for over two years now. In that time, they have come to love D&HHS, and they wanted to give back to the organization which they know operates on a shoestring budget.
“Erica Chapin, Community & Partnerships Manager for D&HHS, said The Book Nook and Java Shop has hosted other fundraisers and that Brooke reached out to the organization to see if D&HHS would be willing to participate.
One way they get agencies involved is to ask them to have guest bartenders and baristas,” Chapin noted. “This gets our agency people involved and interacting with the community.”
For the D&HHS event, Board member Rhonda Maxwell was the main guest barista, and D&HHS Executive Director Deb Atwood also jumped in throughout the night.
All told some 75 people came and went throughout the night with consistent lines of people waiting for coffee or cocktails.
There were also crafts for kids, as well as a few items for a raffle and silent auction. Children from the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program, which Lucy is in, did an ABC performance. And D&HHS’s own Nancy Piersma did one of her famous signed story times.
The money raised was a combination of individuals who gave donations throughout the night (cash and checks) and a portion of the night’s total receipts. All of the proceeds from the evening will go to D&HHS Youth Programs.
Both Atwood and Chapin said that events like Coffee and Cocktails are important from a monetary perspective.
But, added Chapin, “They help us connect with the community.”
She noted that attendees included both families and adults who were able to learn about the many D&HHS programs and services for people of all ages.
“These opportunities to connect are so valuable,” she said.
Donations to the work of D&HHS are always appreciated. You can donate by going to deafhhs.org/donate