A Cup for a Cause
“Can you bind yourself to a shift for a 3 month time frame
for those that have no freedom can go free?”
On January 22, 2011 something changed in our community that
would impact lives around the globe. It all started with casual conversations
between friends, a conversation that doesn’t normally take place in most
households. A conversation about a topic
most find hard to discuss, not because we don’t care but because most have no
idea how to make a difference or help fight to change the problem. But Co-Founders
of Origin Coffee & Tea, Mark South and Chad Salstrom came up with a concept
that is doing just that, impacting the world with one cup of coffee at a time.
When we hear about a young girl who is missing on television or read about her
in the paper most are saddened and concerned for her safety. We stare at her
picture and study her face for a moment and imagine if it was our child that
was missing, taken or sold. But where does one start to help fight the brutal
and most heinous life of sex trafficking. More and more children every year are
drug into the life of slavery, “like a disposable cup,” Mark South said, one of
the co-founders of Origin. He told us about a story of a young girl about the
age of sixteen taken off the street in El Dorado Hills in 2009. She was held in
Rocklin for eight days until she was sold off to sex slavery in the Bay Area. After
hearing that story of the young girl and many others Mark and Chad decided to
build something that would “bring awareness to create a culture of this
reality,” and constant revenue in the aid Child Sex Trafficking. They said that
one check in any amount of money wouldn’t even stop the 32 billion dollar a
year industry of child sex slavery. Awareness and perception was the only way
to really make a long lasting impact on an act that will take decades to bring
down. Origin opened its doors in 2011 and with this concept; they have created
story tellers and abolitionists, a city wide collaborative, non-profit business
that impacts not only our children locally but worldwide. There are many people
since opening in 2011 that have given their life to this. Traveling overseas
and donating their time to help save a child’s life. There have come by to
visit Origin just to see where it all starts. Like most successful things in
life it is a give and take. When you have this many people fighting for these
girls it’s good to see that some know they need to fight for themselves, Mark
explained. Of course there is the reality that some just can’t see the hope and
end up right back where they were rescued from, but the success stories
outweigh the tragedies. With all this effort being put out it takes a city to
save these children so Origin has partnered with some incredible resources. One
of the most wonderful resources out there is the Grace Network. www.thegracenetwork.org
They are a list of anonymous angels who when an email is
sent out to share about a child in need these people from all walks of life and
carriers step up and provide the necessary funds to help the cause against child exploitation to truly birth
lasting change and transformation with this issue. Most of all the money
collected from these resources and from Origin goes to homes in these countries
like Cambodia. Another small example is tattoo removal for the brandings that
are carved into these girls displaying that they have been bought or owned. The
process of saving a child from slavery starts with Rescue. IJM (International
Justice Mission) www.ijm.org based in
Washington DC is a big part of why we have seen thousands saved by the action
of this organization. The next step in the process is Recovery starting with a
safe home in cities like Calcutta where on home can house up to 17 girls or
more that have been rescued. Cultural development on the ground is crucial to
changing the perspective on how slavery is viewed in other countries. Origin
Coffee works with resources like The Grace Network and IJM in fighting for an
end in child sex slavery.
When you visit Origin one of the things you can expect to
find is a delicious cup of “Fair Trade Organic” coffee, made by professional
baristas. The coffee is locally farmed and roasted here locally in the city.
Their hand crafted coffee has won awards with a throwback old school coffee style
all topped with striking late art. In an effort to raise more money for the
cause Origin also hosts Open Mic night every 3rd Saturday,
showcasing local artists and talent. Origin also offers two conference rooms
available for meetings or any other needs you might have. They do not charge
for the use of the facility and only ask that %75 of your party purchase a
drink. Another creative way to help in the financial backing needed to donate
to these organizations is the sale of handmade purses, wallets and jewelry and
other unique products made directly from the girls that have been rescued.
With all that this shop has to offer it’s no surprise that
they are the talk of the town and that’s exactly what they want, a discussion
about a global issue that needs to be talked about over and over again.
Origin Coffee & Tea is open every day from 6:30am-
10:30pm Free Wi-Fi is offered to their customers. They are located at 2168
Sunset Boulevard #105 Rocklin, CA 95675
(916) 787-5676
(916) 787-5676
Elizabeth Cheryl
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