Every year, the U.N. resettles 2,500 refugees in Clarkston, GA, a little city on the edge of Atlanta that CNN called "the most diverse square mile in the world." From over 145 countries, survivors of war and famine arrive right here in Atlanta's backyard. And it is a struggle from day one to create a home here. 

The goal of Refuge Coffee Co. is to provide a safe place to anchor Clarkston's refugee community. Because jobs are such a huge need, we're starting with a Refuge Coffee Truck to create our first refugee job and begin our job training program. Ultimately, our dream is to build a Coffee Shop in the heart of Clarkston that reflects the true heart of our city, a veritable mash-up of Asian/African/Arabic/American cultures. We will not only train resettled refugees here; we’ll create a place for these unique cultures to tell their stories and share their lives.

When we reach our goal of $30,000, we will be able to outfit the Refuge Coffee Truck and hire our first job trainee.

You may be wondering how a hipster coffee truck can make a difference. We've thought a lot about that, too. Here's how:

• JOBS, which are scarce in Clarkston. In fact, the most common job for a newly arrived refugee is over an hour away at a chicken-processing plant. And there aren't enough of those.
• TRAINING: Our one-year program will not only equip refugees to work in the highest quality food service, specialty coffee, and hospitality businesses, it will provide one-on-one coaching in just about every area of life a transplant to our country needs to make this home.
• COMMUNITY: Did you know 80% of immigrants to our country have never been inside an American home? The aid agencies here welcome refugees during their first months. But then refugees are on their own to figure out how to fit it here. What better place than a coffee shop to introduce greater Atlanta to the world at their doorstep?

Our Thank You Gift Levels

$10: Two 1" round buttons in snappy red with REFUGE printed in white. May we suggest you keep one for yourself and share one... over coffee of course!

$10: Get your first cup of Refuge Coffee free! We’ll send you a nifty coupon to use as soon as we’re operational.

$25: One diner mug (Is there a better kind? We don't think so.) emblazoned with the Refuge logo.

$50: One 12 oz. bag of our exceptional Refuge Coffee.

$100: One 100% cotton, V-neck T Shirt emblazoned, like our mug, with the Refuge logo.

$250: A billboard bag made by Plywood People (colors will vary depending on the billboard used). 

$500: We will bring our truck to your home or business (within a 30 mile radius of Clarkston) and provide our brewed coffee and specialty coffee drinks for a crowd (limit 50, please).

$1000: Your name will appear (for all time) on our truck!

$5000: We'll bring the truck to your home or business (or the location you choose) and serve our coffee. We will also teach your guests the finer points of Uhuru Tribal Dancing.

$10,000: Our team will bring a fresh, home-cooked breakfast to your home on January 1, 2015 (within a 30 mile radius of Clarkston). Yes, we know you’ll be sleeping late, so you get to set the time.

$15,000: Our founder, who is just old enough and unhipster enough for this to be kind of shocking, will get, gasp, a tattoo (her first and last ever). If you’d like to accompany her and get one yourself, she will pay for that, too. 

Help us transform our truck from this: 

To this...