From Rwanda To Vienna

People in Vienna love their coffee. And in Grapevine Bookstore, hundreds of coffee drinkers can contribute to a great cause while getting exceptional coffee at the same time.

Since last January, Grapevine Books, located in the Vienna Presbyterian Church, has sold the coffee as part of a program to provide Rwandan farmers with better than fair trade wages. They sold more bags of Land of 1000 Hills Rwandan Coffee than any other church in Virginia last year. That’s significant because proceeds from every bag sold goes to the farmers in Rwanda, while also offering them the opportunity to farm side-by-side with former enemies from the 1994 genocide.

“We sold 670 bags of coffee that provided living wages for five coffee farmers and their families,” said Anna Whiston-Donaldson, manager of the store. “We started by selling a few bags and the congregation really loved it. It’s really super high quality coffee.”

It was back in April of 1994 when the African country of Rwanda experienced one of history’s most atrocious genocides.  During a 100-day period, one million ethnic Tutsi and moderate Hutu sympathizers lose their lives to the hands of extremist Hutu militia.

In the wake of civil war, Rwanda made a commitment to national restoration. The government called upon the church to lead the country in reconciliation and asked the outside world to support them as it looked to heal and eradicate poverty, disease and illiteracy.

In 2001, the founder of Land of a Thousand Hills recognized a simple and tangible opportunity to make a difference in the reconciliation of the Rwandan people. The introduction of Specialty Coffee to the healing fields of Rwanda proved to be an uncommon opportunity for once warring countrymen not only rebuild their homesteads, but to work together toward lasting peace.

It was Kim Jackson who first brought the idea to Grapevine Bookstore. Jackson, a missionary, visited Rwanda last year and saw the farmers in action.

“I was frustrated and powerless and wanted in some small way to help or do something or provide some assistance,” Jackson said. “It’s not just a handout. It really grabbed me that they were promoting healing and reconciliation through coffee.”

That’s when she presented the idea about selling the coffee inside the bookstore to Whiston-Donaldson.

“We have been educating the congregation and providing free samples and telling the stories of the people, which gets people excited,” Whiston-Donaldson said. “We just think the program is awesome and hoping to let more people learn about it.”

This year, the church store hopes to sell even more bags. It shouldn't be hard: as more people give the coffee a try, more regular customers become hooked, owners say.

“It really is high quality coffee,” Whiston-Donaldson said. “Everyone who tries it loves it, and it’s great that we can be part of helping such a great causes as well.”

Grapevine Bookstore is open from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.