By Anastasia Brown · Community Editor
There’s a new club on campus this month, and it’s all about building community through everyone’s favorite beverage: coffee!
Sophomore Ada Vandergoot, one of the founders and the current president of the newly formed Coffee Culture Club, has big ambitions for the group. “One of the goals of the club is to foster a deeper appreciation and understanding of coffee!” she explained. “It is such a simple but powerful drink that brings so many people together.”
She’s right — most Grove City students have die-hard favorite local coffee shops, and many important conversations between new acquaintances and old friends seem to happen over cups of coffee.
“In our culture, we know it as a way for fellowship,” Vandergoot described.
One of her co-execs, the current treasurer and secretary of the club, is sophomore Scout Burck, who is “gung-ho!” about the initiation of the group. “I think it’s neat that our club is fellowship-based. I’m super excited to get to know people in the context of Christ, coffee and the pursuit of knowledge!”
The “pursuit of knowledge” Burck mentioned is knowledge about the culture around coffee — a place for members to share what they know about crafting the perfect cup of joe. But it is also a concern for knowing more about coffee’s broader effect on the world at large. As Vandergoot also pointed out, “We don’t see the impact its production has on the countries that grow it. So, in the club, we aim to foster fellowship among students over the enjoyment of coffee while also providing education about its lesser-known impacts on the world.”
“The hope is to hold member meetings that are fellowship-based and education-based. One of the big visions of the club is to put together an ICO trip to Honduras or Costa Rica to go see what coffee farming actually consists of … and maybe even have the opportunity to help!”
Freshman Caden Barker and junior Faith Wilbur both serve as vice presidents of the Coffee Culture Club, and the faculty advisor is Eric Fehr. The club is still working out various logistics before launching any official events, but it will be worth any coffee enthusiast’s time to keep their eyes peeled for upcoming information about the club’s official kickoff!
Burck summed up her hope for why students should get involved with this new group: “I think the mission of the club is really cool. I’m super passionate about the relational aspect of humanity and the importance of fellowship, and I can’t imagine a better way to bond with one another than over a beloved drink!”
