One of the best parts of a wintry day is the moment you get to touch your warm cup of coffee and take a sip of its rich goodness. It is a wake-up call and certainly one that you need to fight off the coldness of winter.
For Peter Thomas, the owner of Pilot Pete’s Coffee and Treats, drinking coffee is more than just a moment of warmth and comfort.
It is also a way to reach out to people and help them find the kindness in their hearts to help others in need. This is why for the seventh year running, Peter conducts a charity drive where homeless people get to enjoy treats and good coffee and at the same time, receive coats and other needs donated by people.
The drive is called “Coffee with a Purpose” and is an initiative wherein the whole community is involved. It is a movement that aims to collect and give away coats to the homeless population in Chicago and help them survive the harsh winter season.
Where it all started
The idea of “Coffee with a Purpose” came to Peter while he was trying to find a way to give back to the community and getting other people to be involved as well. It was a spark that started a huge movement where people are more than willing to take part.
Peter was quite surprised at the massive positive response his idea created. In the first year of their initiative, Peter and the other volunteers were able to collect about 3,000 coats in just three weeks prior to Christmas. People were truly touched by the man’s desire to help, creating in them the desire to reach out to the homeless and needy as well.
This year is the seventh year in a row that Peter conducted the said initiative. Even the pandemic did not stop him from staying true to his cause. In fact, the pandemic inspired him even more seeing as people are in need of help and warmth in these trying times.
Moving around Chicago
Peter is not satisfied with the areas that are near his coffee shop. Therefore, this year, he decided to move around Chicago in a 26-foot moving truck so they can roam around various areas where homeless people are known to stay.
Bringing with him volunteers, a truckload of jackets, and 40 gallons of coffee, Peter went around six stops to give away love, warmth, and kindness. The hot java was created as a result of the generous donations from three other establishments in Elmhurst who are more than eager to take part in “Coffee with a Purpose”.
Not just coffee and coats
With the help of Rough Edges Confectionery, Peter and the other volunteers were able to give away some baked goods that the people truly enjoyed. The truck and a driver were provided Good Move Movers, and the truck signage customized for the initiative was the handiwork of Angel Fancy Design Studio. It was a joint effort that definitely warmed the hearts of the homeless and others in the community.
Peter joyfully invited people at each stop the truck has taken to “shop” for coats. While the people are shopping, he offers them coffee and treats to enjoy. The group did not only have coats on board, but also toiletries and other basic necessities that were donated by various members of the community.
The pandemic only made the initiative even more impactful
Peter knew that a lot of homeless people need help now, more than ever. That is why this year, the group worked hard and ultimately collected 6,000 coats for the homeless to benefit from. It was a successful effort and one that we are very happy to know about.
“[When]we made this effort, all the shelters were on lockdown,” he said in an interview with the Elmhurst Independent. “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… This is a good year to be extra giving.”
There is nothing more perfect to describe his cause other than a steaming cup of coffee.
“I love working with coffee as a tool of motivation to fuel and ignite people to soar beyond their expectations and to soar beyond society’s expectations,” he told ABC. “I’m fueling them and caffeinating them to do something better… something that will make them feel good about themselves so we can all grow together as one coffee family and fly beyond greatness.”
Know more about this man’s inspiring effort to lead a community towards giving and kindness by watching the video below.
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