Each month for the foreseeable future, we are collecting donations to send to charitable organizations and causes in the US. For 2020 and onwards, these highlighted organizations are ones that are centered around education and the fight against racism. It is clear that the specialty coffee industry, and society as a whole, has much to address regarding this long-standing issue. And a way to start is to contribute to those groups that are knowledgeable about action and teach those around them to unlearn racism.
For the month of August, we will be collecting for Holler Health Justice (HHJ). This will continue until the last day of the month.
The West Virginian based organization is focused on ‘building power in Appalachia with communities most disproportionately affected by health inequities, including BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ folk, those in rural areas & those with low income.’ Holler Health Justice envisions ‘an Appalachia where all people have power, access, and resources to be healthy and have agency over their lives’ and value ‘accountability, autonomy, community, joy, mutual aid, pleasure, transparency, and trust.’
To donate, you can select the amount you wish to contribute as an add-on for your product purchases. Acaia will publicly provide proof of donations when they are sent to the organization.
In their own words:
‘Holler Health Justice (HHJ) was founded by a group of young reproductive health, rights, and justice activists looking to meet the substantial need of funding and practical support for West Virginians seeking abortion care. With guidance from the National Network of Abortion Funds and Kentucky Health Justice Network, HHJ launched in August 2018 to become the first and only financial and practical abortion support fund in West Virginia.
‘Led by a majority POC, queer, and low-income board of directors, HHJ believes that those directly impacted by an issue are best positioned to design and lead solutions. In addition to abortion funding and practical support, HHJ expanded its scope of work in 2019 to meet additional health equity needs of Appalachians by providing free emergency contraception, harm reduction materials and services, and ID obtainment. In 2022, HHJ partnered with Harvard University's FXB Center for Health & Human Rights and Project N95 to distribute high-filtration masks for free throughout West Virginia to help limit the spread of COVID-19.’