Jennings Coffee and Tea Offers Pay-It-Forward Board And Community Responds

April 30, 2020

Dayton, TN -- In a time of great uncertainty, Rhea County people have strongly prioritized community involvement these last few weeks. We have seen car parades, mask crafters, drive up church services, children’s video library resources, school personnel working without pause to supply food and resources for our kids, and so much more.

Jennings Coffee and Tea

At Jennings Coffee and Tea, we have witnessed firsthand the heart of Rhea County people in a way that has made us so proud to live here. Our shop opened in November. Our goal was to provide espresso and loose leaf tea drinks of big-city quality, served by local community baristas who genuinely care about the experience people receive. Being a part of this community means a great deal to us. We were blown away by the response of the first few months, and then Corona appeared and shut everything down. We have been hanging in there along with most other places, and were grateful to gain some wonderful regulars we see often as well as new people each week. But a coffee shop still isn’t the same without a low chatter, people meeting friends, kids ordering muffins or hot chocolate, and laptops buzzing with concentrated students. And in the quiet we joined many others in thinking of ways we could distance but still be a part of encouraging many of our friends and the community who were in uncertain times.

On March 30th the shop began a program where we could begin to offer some free drinks to those who have suffered financially or who are burdened with the responsibilities of maintaining the health and safety of our town. This program was also opened to the community in the form of a Pay it Forward board. Our goal was to work together with our neighbors, and we were excited to see a small positive impact for those needing some encouragement and a warm smile. Almost immediately our program turned from a small Facebook post and a chalkboard in the shop into:

• Gift cards being purchased in $25 and $50 increments to add to the program.
• Texts, phone calls, and facebook messages pouring in from those confined to their homes or currently out of state to buy a drink or  * more over the phone.
• People coming in to buy flats of drinks and treats for local hospital workers.
• People who were being very careful with their finances asking if they could please add an extra drink to their tab for someone else. A full board and people still giving with a smile.

Sometimes people have stopped by and asked for something off the board and left with something that we hope has encouraged them for free. Sometimes people haven’t been aware, and come in to pay for something and we listened to their stories about temporary layoffs and cut hours. Those friends have left with a free drink as well. And as fast as we gave them away more were added. These interactions blessed us certainly as much as anyone else. Currently the program tab still has a few drinks for anyone who asks and needs a smile! Coffee and tea are social drinks, and Rhea County has let us be a small part of sharing them to give each other a hand or a hug in small ways that mean a great deal. We live in a small special part of Tennessee, and we will continue helping each other whatever comes!

Emily and Allan Johnson