For the seventh year in a row, an unassuming coffee shop nestled away in a Chicago train station has rallied their community to warm up the homeless during the city’s harsh winter.
What started off as a a simple desire to support his homeless neighbors in some small way has turned into an annual, community-wide effort that quite possibly is saving lives. On January 13, volunteers gathered outside Pilot Pete’s Coffee and Treats to assist with the 7th annual ‘Coffee With a Purpose’ coat drive, organized by Pilot Pete’s owner, Peter Thomas.
Thomas was completely blown away by the amount of involvement from the community during the drive’s first year. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, 3,000 coats were donated at his coffee shop.
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Not only did donations pour in, but an army of volunteers have also faithfully shown up every single year to help sort and organize the donations in preparation for distribution. Despite COVID, this year’s turn out was no different in regards to the high number of donations and volunteers, with children also showing up in droves to lend a helping hand. Speaking to THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS, Thomas said:
“I don’t know if they’re tired of being home or not, but it seems like a lot of kids liked finding something positive to do. Over the Christmas holiday, we were receiving as many as 200 coats a day on average. Everyone was in a giving mood and we are happy to provide a portal to receive donations from the community.”
While COVID may not have impeded people’s generosity, it did increase the number of those in need this year.
“At the time we made this effort, all the shelters were on lockdown as well, no one was allowed in or out, that is, once you’re out, you can’t get back in, so there are more and more homeless people,” Thomas said. “This is a good year to be extra giving.”
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This year’s drive took place in the back of a 26-ft moving truck donated and driven by Good Move Movers, and it was outfitted like a tiny boutique store, where “customers” could show up and browse through the organized donated items and take whatever they needed. From coats, to socks, to personal hygiene items, all needs were addressed, with visitors being treated to a hot cup of joe and a delicious baked good to fill and warm their bellies.
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Thomas brewed 40 gallons of coffee and local bakery Rough Edges Confectionery donated 300 bakery items, and the loaded truck headed out to make six different stops around Chicago to outfit the city’s homeless through one-on-one personal interactions. The human connection aspect of the project is just as important to Thomas as meeting the physical needs.
“You never know where someone has been or what someone’s been through before meeting them. With the homeless, we treat everyone the same or equal.”
In a year of unbelievable hardships, Thomas says that the project really helps keep a proper perspective on how blessed most of us are.
“This year, it was the realization that our problems aren’t really problems, ours aren’t that bad compared to what others are going through and what they look at daily – looking for their next meal, they are very humble, very grateful. Some of them even try to turn [the coats] down, they say, ‘oh, give it to someone who REALLY needs it.’
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