Raleigh coffee roaster Larry’s Beans and Chestnut Ridge have teamed up to improve the lives of children near and far.

Here's how it works: You purchase great-tasting, organic, shade-grown fair trade coffee from Larry's Beans. Larry's donates a percentage of each purchase to a scholarship fund. Kids with financial need get to come to camp.

Your purchase not only provides scholarship funds for children and youth from our local communities to attend camp, it improves the lives of low-income coffee farmers and their families. This way, the coffee trading model based on social, economic, and environmental sustainability makes a difference in the lives of children in coffee-growing countries as well as the children in our immediate communities.

When you purchase a bag of Larry's Beans coffee online, buy it for your church, or grab a bag at one of our camp stores, you can support giving kids an awesome camp experience. Everyone wins! Not only do farmers receive considerably more money for their coffee beans, Larry's Bean contributes a portion of the proceeds toward camp scholarship funds to send kids to Camp Chestnut Ridge. These funds enable children and youth in our local communities to experience a week of summer camp, providing them with countless opportunities to engage themselves, others and the great outdoors. Great summer camp experiences change lives, instilling hope and spreading peace. Just like Larry's Beans. The BIG IDEA is that our partnership benefits people near and far, and most of all, you get great coffee you can feel good about.

“This is a win-win program for churches, kids and for Larry’s Beans,” said Larry Larson, founder and CEO of Larry’s Beans. “Larry’s Beans coffee is 100 percent Fair Trade and is a mission-driven company whose commitment to Fair Trade and sustainability is a natural fit for church groups.”

To promote this partnership, Larry’s Beans set up a Faith-based web link on its website to help support the program. Customers who order coffee through that link will have their purchase tracked to support the program. The link can be found at https://www.larrysbeans.com/faith-based-programs/#methodists.

“We were impressed with the philosophy and mission of Larry’s Beans, and that made the decision to pursue this program extremely easy,” said Bobby Harris, executive director of the NC United Methodist Camp & Retreat Missions. “This is a chance to assist the church in understanding social justice issues, and bring it about everyday with a product everyone enjoys.”

Larry’s Beans coffee will be served in all three conference camp centers: Chestnut Ridge, Don Lee and Rockfish. Harris sees a day when the program could lead to an exchange of youth campers and counselors between North Carolina and the coffee-growing regions around the world. Cultural exchange like this helps raise awareness of social issues, like access to education and economic equality, which can inspire meaningful business partnerships. Larry says, “People feel good when their purchases support their values. That’s how social change happens.”

How You Can Participate

Individually

1. Buy great coffee from Larry's Beans
2. Sit back and wait patiently. Your coffee will magically arrive at your doorstep.
3. Enjoy your coffee and the fact that a portion of your money will be used for kids to attend camp

Church/Business/Organization

1. Order great coffee from Larry's Beans by phone (919.828.1234). You'll need to mention that your order should be linked to the United Methodist program.
2. Sit back and wait patiently. Your coffee will magically arrive at your doorstep.
3. Enjoy your coffee and the fact that a portion of your money will be used for kids to attend camp

About Larry's Beans

Since 1994 the mission of Larry’s Beans has been to find the best coffees in the world and roast them with precision and artistry. The company is a founding member of Cooperative Coffees, the first and only group of independent coffee roasters that buys green beans directly from Fair Trade coffee co-ops.

Larry’s Beans builds Fair Trade relationships with small farm cooperatives, buys only Organic, Shade Grown coffees and supports farming partners in practicing sustainable farming methods. Larry’s Beans cultivates relationships that benefit people, animals, and the environment. In 2006, Larry’s Beans was the recipient of the NC Sustainability for triple-bottom line business. For more information, please visit their website.