Portland, Ore. – Portland Roasting Coffee Company has selected Central City Concern, a Portland-based organization focused on providing comprehensive solutions to ending homelessness and achieving self-sufficiency, as the recipient of the roaster’s fifth annual holiday roast fundraiser. At $11 per 12-ounce bag, $1 of every bag of Holiday Roast sold will go toward the nonprofit’s Community Volunteer Corps (CVC).
The goal of the holiday coffee fundraiser is to raise $5,000 toward the development and ongoing operation of a Central City Concern branded coffee line, slated to launch in January. Made possible through a collaboration with Portland Roasting, the branded coffee program will provide CVC graduates with the opportunity to learn transferable skills through the coffee trade, specifically evaluating taste, packaging, sales and distribution.
Full bodied with caramel and brown sugar notes, the Portland Roasting Holiday Roast is available now through December at New Seasons, Zupan’s Markets, Fred Meyer (Stadium & Hawthorne), Sheridan Fruit Company, Lamb’s Garden Home and Made In Oregon stores. It can also be purchased online at www.portlandroasting.com, or at Central City Concern’s Business Enterprise office at 118 NW 3rd Ave. in Portland.
Since the CVC program’s inception in 2009, volunteers have given more than 30,000 hours of service to the community working in partnership with such non-profit organizations as Portland Parks & Recreation, Free Geek and Multnomah County’s CROPS farm. Volunteers commit to 80 hours of mentored work over a three-month period, learning new skills and improving work habits along the way, and ultimately becoming prepared for permanent employment. Volunteer teams have completed tasks such as park beautification, computer recycling and harvesting crops for needy families.
About Central City Concern
Central City Concern’s mission is providing comprehensive solutions to ending homelessness and achieving self-sufficiency. Founded in 1979, it serves approximately 13,000 people yearly with healthcare, housing, peer support and employment. For more information go to www.centralcityconcern.org.
About Portland Roasting
Headquartered in the epicenter of the U.S. coffee culture, Portland Roasting has crafted premium blends, varietals and espresso for wholesale and retail customers since 1996. A pioneer of direct trade, Portland Roasting weaves stewardship into its business model by ethically sourcing coffee with an eye on global betterment. Portland Roasting has facilitated 13 projects in as many years – from planting shade trees in El Salvador to building wells in East Africa. Its dedication to roasting exceptional coffees and providing unparalleled services earned Portland Roasting the esteemed “Roaster of the Year” award for 2012 from Roast Magazine. For more information go to www.portlandroasting.com.