Having a Go Coffee

I’m sitting here feeling very proud of myself right now. You see it was only about 3 years ago I was homeless and trying to get on my feet, in some way get my life back in order or normal so to speak. Just now I’ve been thinking of all the good things I’ve done. I have helped so many people one on one and through my homeless BBQ’s which helps so many. I have seen people not just get back on their feet but really amaze me as to how much. Some going back to families which to me is priceless knowing I had a part in it.

But I have to say I’ve helped many that have “crashed and burned” so to speak which means I have helped them and in time will need to help again, I guess it’s about when their ready or I didn’t have the right contacts or help.

For a long time now I’ve been putting together homeless BBQ’s every 2 months is good and I think I’m helping a lot of people, but I also thought that helping people to do a complete circle so to speak is better, I have wrote before about putting coffee shops/carts together. Well I’m proud to say I have opened my first one. “Having a Go Coffee” at 262 Old Cleveland Rd Coorparoo.

We have our Grand Opening tomorrow the 31^st of August from 8:30am. This shop is the first of 50 in Brisbane that’s going to be employing only people from homelessness or hardship. The way it’s going to work is I help them with whatever they need to get on their feet and give training and employment. For some even traineeships. This is very exciting because it’s their first or second chance at life again.

I’ve set this up so that every cup sold 20cents goes towards Signal Flare which is the charity that we do the Homeless BBQ’s. So this means I’ll be helping people to get on their feet and every time they make a coffee they are helping others at the BBQ’s. I have to say this inspires me because I love the idea of helping people and later they help others as well.

Now that’s all great with what I’ve put together, but all the stores will do Suspended Coffee’s or Suspended Coffee & Muffin’s which means when people come into the store you can also buy a coffee or coffee and muffin for a homeless or person in need. That’s awesome.

Right now I’m thinking of some of the people I’ve meet when I was homeless and since. Most saying positive things and how I can get back on my feet, and then there’s the umm (thinking of nice way to put it) jerks that have spat on me, yelled abuse “Get a job you bum” e.g. I really wish both sides could see me now. I wasn’t a bum I just was hitting hard times with injuries and things.

I have such a new outlook on life and I hope I can inspire and helpers to as well.

Please come to the newest coffee shop and check it out.

Grant Richards

Grant the Polite Guy

0412 190 011

grantthepoliteguy@gmail.com

Exciting Times

I’ll tell you now I’m more excited now than ever about things with helping homeless and people in need. I done a BBQ for the homeless and people in need at Wynnum, now we didn’t get a great number of people but I did take a step back and noticed all the new people that had come to help. New charity groups came by the bus loads.

To be honest I have never worked so little putting the event together. I would very much like to thank in a huge way Pastor Lui and crew, The Kotahi Aroha crew and The Tautoko Crew for all they done.

Now one couple really went far and beyond and that’s Katey Keating-McKee and her great husband. But I’m going to write a post on this couple later (Next Post) in full detail because there awesome.

After doing the BBQ event at Wynnum Pastor Lui is now going to be doing these BBQ’s once a month at Wynnum and helping people on a regular basis. I’m going to help him anyway I can and be proud that I started something great out that way. If you want to help with this please contact me and I’ll be very happy to pass on details.

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I HAVE DONE!!! I HAVE DONE IT!!! Well I have almost done it. Ha-ha. You see I posted here and sent out a lot of emails to get my first coffee cart. I raised enough to buy that cart and a lot of things I needed for it to be ready for operation. If you remember I am going to be helping people to get on their feet personally and then give them all the training needed, then given full time employment working the coffee cart. Plus 20cents from every coffee was going towards (Signal Flare) the homeless BBQ’s I do. So in fact I would be helping people on their feet and with just going to work and making coffee would in turn be helping others in the future. Awesome.

Everything was going great except I couldn’t get a lease for the cart in the city due to the fact my new business had no experience. Now one thing that keeps me going sometimes is the fact that I was homeless so I know what homeless and people in need are going through and I’ve achieved so much because of heart and the fact I just don’t give up.

Now sometimes I think some things are meant to be and happen for a reason, I just don’t understand why sometimes. Ha-ha. But this was meant to be because I just got approved for a shop lease which I can turn into a coffee shop. But the best part is it already has a nice looking counter and sink and things out back. It was a café/restaurant before. All I need to do is bring most of the stuff I was using on the coffee cart and put into the shop and away I go. Yes I’ll need tables, chairs, signs and a lot more, but I can do this. But here’s the best part, it’ll help maybe 12 full time staff which means I’ll be able to help at least 12 people to get on their feet, training and give an opportunity too.

Does anyone know where I can get free or cheap good second hand tables and chairs? I’m sure there’s going to be a few things needed but that’s the next thing on my list.

To make this even more helpful for homeless I’m going to be doing the “Suspended Coffee” which means people who have extra money can come and buy a coffee and it is put on hold and given to a homeless person.

Now to people reading this it may not seem like much, but to the 12 people it’ll be huge. I really wish you all could see my smile right now because I’m so happy just to be writing this. WOO HOO. Yeah.

I get the keys on Monday 19^th of August and having a Grand Opening on Saturday 24^th of August from 9am. So please add this date and come and celebrate with me for the opening of the first store.

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I want to write about a guy I have been helping along the way for a few years now, James (not his real name) has been homeless for at least 3½ years that I know of. I have seen him over time become more confident in himself to the fact I am proud of him. This morning he called me and we spoke for about an hour on the phone ( I called him back so it didn’t cost him) but I have some very exciting news. James has been in touch with his family and is ready to go home and in a way start fresh.

Now I must say I was trying hard to hold back the excitement while talking to him. He told me he had to pay a debt with getting Methadone at a chemist which he insisted on paying, but asked if I could pay for a ticket for him to go back home to his family. For me this is a huge breakthrough because I have talked about him doing this time and time again. YES now he wants too. I’m so excited right now. I can’t tell you how many “Pie’s and Cokes” I bought while talking about how everything okay to go home.

But here’s the thing. I normally pay for these things myself out of my own pocket but I can’t right now because I’m pouring all the money I can into getting the coffee shop (which is not enough) up and going to help many more people. So in saying that I’d like to know who is willing to pay for a guy to go back home after at least 3½ years  of being on the streets? It would be a plane fare to Sydney and enough money to pay for train and back to the airport and enough for drinks and of course a meal. $170 maybe.

As I said I normally pay for this myself so if anyone wants to think of this as loan then I will pay them back for this after I have setup the coffee shop.

To help please email me on grantthepoliteguy@gmail.com

I’d like to thank you all for reading my blog and I hope you all have a great day.

Grant Richards

Grant the Polite Guy

0412 190 011

grantthepoliteguy@gmail.com