Now and Then Coffee Hosts Raffle To Support Floridians Affected By Hurricane Ian

by

Editorial Policy

Published on

Now and Then Coffee is putting together a raffle to raise funds for those affected by Hurricane Ian, a category four hurricane that caused damage across western Cuba, southwest Florida, and South Carolina in late September and early October. 

Why it matters: Event organizers Demi Chacón and Davy Ball, also the founders and co-owners of Now and Then, call Florida home, and the hurricane left many in southwest Florida with nothing. “We’ve been in touch with some folks down there, and it’s devastating,” says Chacón. “The least we could do is try to raise some money to help folks get by and get back on their feet.” 

  • The Tampa-based business will host an in-person raffle at Spaddy’s Coffee’s Seminole Heights location on October 23rd at 6 pm and a virtual raffle, open to all US residents, that will run until October 23rd. 
  • Prizes range in value between $55-$2000, including a Silvia Pro X espresso machine from Rancilio (valued at roughly $2000), an ATOM grinder from Victoria Arduino (~$1400), scales from Acaia, gear from Fellow Products, an artisan kettle and pour over kit from Brewista, and more prizes to be announced over the coming days. 
  • The in-person raffle will include prizes from local businesses like tattoo artist Mason Chimato, Jug & Bottle, GetAlong Donuts, and Rooster & the Till. The event will have beer and food from local vendors. 

The Full Extraction: Organizers hope to raise $10,000, and oat milk manufacturer Oatly has pledged to match donations up to $7,000. Along with bidding for prizes, folks can donate directly to the cause

Chacón states the funds raised will be used to benefit affected Floridians widely, and all money will be distributed to a few different organizations: Current Initiatives, a non-profit that supports community-based mobilization, GoFundBean’s Disaster Relief Fund, and directly to purchasing emergency supplies. 

What’s More: Winners of the virtual raffle will be announced on Now and Then’s Instagram account on October 24th, where you can also keep track of any updates. Remember, you can participate in the virtual raffle from now until the 23rd (if you live in the US) or give direct support to those devastated by Hurricane Ian. 

Share This Article
ashley rodriguez fresh cup

Ashley Rodriguez

Ashley Rodriguez is the managing editor at Fresh Cup. She served as the online editor of Barista Magazine from 2016-2019 and is an award-winning beer writer and podcaster. She hosts a podcast called Boss Barista and writes an accompanying newsletter about coffee and service work.

Join 7,000+ coffee pros and get top stories, deals, and other industry goodies in your inbox each week.

Other Articles You May Like

Coffee News Club: Week of June 5th

Have sustainability initiatives been beneficial for coffee farmers? Farmers and consumers disagree. Here’s the news for the week of June 5th.
by Fionn Pooler | June 5, 2023

Coffee News Club: Week of May 30th

How wasps and bees are buzzing to make coffee better. This and more news for the week of May 30th.
by Fionn Pooler | May 30, 2023

Coffee News Club: Week of May 22nd

Timepieces made from old coffee grounds—this and other news for the week of May 22nd.
by Fionn Pooler | May 22, 2023

The Fresh Cup Library Is Now Open

The Fresh Cup Library is a resource providing templates, spreadsheets, and other tools designed to make it easier to run coffee businesses.
by Garrett Oden | May 18, 2023