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Starting today, Friday, February 3 through Sunday, February 5, 12 Austin coffee shop are participating in a nationwide fundraiser for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in response to the controversial immigration ban.
Earlier this week, Eater reported that Fleet Coffee had signed on to donate twenty percent of its weekend revenue starting today. Since then many more local coffee peddlers have pledged various percentages of the weekend’s revenue or matching donations — in Houndstooth’s case up to $1,000 per location.
The fundraiser is the brainchild of Sprudge, a publication dedicated to coffee culture. Sprudge will match the first $500 per company raised this weekend for the ACLU. The goal is to raise at least $100,000.
At the time of publication, 530 coffee shops (representing 278 brands) across the country have banded together. Participating companies include recognizable national brands such as Blue Bottle and Stumptown and individual shops too. Of those, 12 are based in Austin including:
- Cafe Medici, five locations across Austin
- Houndstooth Coffee, two locations at 4200 North Lamar Blvd, #120; and 401 Congress Avenue, #100C
- Figure 8, 1111 Chicon Street
- Fleet Coffee, 2427 Webberville Road
- Once Over Coffee Bar, 2009 South 1st Street
- Vintage Heart Coffee, 1405 East 7th Street
- Wright Bros. Brew & Brew, 500 San Marcos Street, #105
Vintage Heart Coffee has pledged to donate 5% of all coffee sales today through Sunday. The East Austin spot posted this statement to Instagram presumably written by owner Mallory Alison:
I opened Vintage Heart Coffee to create a space where people could come to feel welcomed and appreciated. It is in that spirit that we are joining the multitude of coffee shops around the country to raise money for the ACLU this weekend. If you are looking for ways to give back that don't seem too daunting, we urge you to pop into the shop this weekend, ours or any of the others around town who are participating, to grab a coffee for you and a friend. I think we can all agree to be kind to one another and that conversations over coffee make the world slow down for a bit, and maybe, can make it just a little bit better.
The Austin dining scene has not shied away from voicing its opinions and being active participants for the protection of civil rights and more. Many local restaurants and bars marked Inauguration Day on Friday, January 20 by donating sales to nonprofits and collecting goods.
What’s next? On Sunday, February 19, the East Cesar Chavez Street bar Weather Up is hosting an evening of solidarity and support of Planned Parenthood from 7 to 11 p.m. Cocktails and food will be provided all evening long and are included in the $60 ticket price. 100% of sales will be donated to Planned Parenthood. Bonus: Best-selling American novelist, screenwriter, and journalist Sarah Bird of “A Love Letter to Texas Women” will be on-hand for a reading.
The full list of participating coffee shops for this weekend’s fundraiser is available here and has been continually updated. This story will be updated should more local establishments join the campaign.
