CafeSmart 2022, which ran from 1 to 7 August, has raised more than $159,000 which will be distributed to 130 frontline organisations.
The annual event, organised by not-profit StreetSmart Australia, raises funds to support Australians affected by homelessness. 2022 saw 650 cafés and 50 coffee roasters take part, which the brand says will have a vital, local impact across so many regions in Australia.
“Cafe Smart is a program that Axil Coffee Roasters has supported across all its venues for many years now. Our customers love the opportunity to contribute to help tackle homelessness, and CafeSmart provides the perfect platform to do this,” says David Makin, Director of Axil Coffee Roasters.
Throughout a tough year of flooding, increasing rental stress, and cost of living pressures, many Australians have turned to their local community organisations for support and assistance. According to CafeSmart, it is these small, grassroots organisations that are responding to the needs of those most vulnerable in their communities, and why the small grants are so important.
“The rising cost of living, increase in food prices and pressures on the rental market are causing significant financial hardship for so many people. As we head into the festive season, we can already feel the added pressure and anxiety for people on a low income which always puts added demand on our Food Pantry at this time of year. $1100 is a huge contribution towards our minimal budget and we are so grateful to receive your ongoing support. It will allow us to purchase much needed non-perishable food items which are accessed by more than 40 families each week,” says Hayley Everuss from The Hut Community Centre.
Locally funded grants from CafeSmart fill the funding gaps for these organisations and ensure their programs supporting families, women, migrants, those sleeping rough, and those struggling to make ends meet can continue. These grants are ensuring that vulnerable youth, struggling families, migrants, domestic violence survivors, and people experiencing homelessness are supported by their local networks.
Grants were made across Australia, from Hobart in the South to Darwin in the North, Margaret River in the West to Byron Bay in the East.
This impact wouldn’t be possible without the Australian Coffee Industry that gets behind the event every year, and also the principal sponsors that contributed to the event, Vitasoy and La Marzocco Australia. This year, there has been a number of supporters helping raise funds and scaling the impact of the event, including MICE, The Coffee Club, Made by Fressko, Coffee Tools Distributing and Nomad Group.
