Cup of kindness to warm hearts of homeless

Jerry (left) and Victa have a hot coffee courtesy of Fix's pay it forward scheme. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER

A simple cup of coffee is making all the difference for Rotorua's homeless, says the owner of a city coffee shop.

The Wera Aotearoa Charitable Trust is in its second week of running a new pay it forward scheme through its Tutanekai St coffee outlet Fix.

For every $2 donated by customers a cup of barista-made coffee is donated to one of the homeless community.

"There are people in the community who want to give something but they sometimes don't know how," said Wera trustee Teresa Hawkins.

"A cup of coffee makes you feel good."

She said there were about 35 homeless people in Rotorua and while the trust couldn't provide shelter or cooked meals it could give coffee.

"My brother, who passed away eight weeks ago, was homeless in Sydney," Mrs Hawkins said.

"I had asked him about it and he said the homeless are grateful for anything.
"It's been a very interesting journey; we've got a very giving community in Rotorua."

She said the milk was donated and all Fix profits were put back into the community.
She said some people had set up automatic payments of $10 to ensure there was always a coffee available.

Barista Simon Strickland said there were often homeless people waiting at 7.30am.
The pay it forward concept is in conjunction with Love Soup Rotorua.

"It warms them up through winter," Mr Strickland said.

"We're doing about 20 a day, which is great and they also pay it forward themselves when they have loose change."

There's a stack of coffee cups to the side of the machine, so people who donate can get a message written onto the cup.

Mr Strickland said some people donated 50c, others $10.

"Rotorua is pretty generous."