Today we’d like to introduce you to Rob Bergfalk.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Compassion Coffee’s vision is to empower people affected by homelessness, and we’ll do that by providing employment, skills training, and resources. This vision was born out of Compassion Church which was started in 2021 with a heart to show compassion to those in need.
Since then, we’ve started a travel coffee cart that can be booked at local community events, schools, businesses, and everything in between. We found a location for a brick-and-mortar coffeehouse, and are currently in the process of meeting with the city for approval and raising funds for the remodel.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Overall, the journey has been good! We’re blown away by the support of our community and the excitement that has been building. The biggest struggle has been the financial piece; it takes a lot of money to open up a coffeehouse!
We are working on getting a remodel loan, but with Compassion Coffee only being in existence for a year, we’ve struggled with finding a bank or credit union that will provide a loan without us guaranteeing it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I (Rob) currently work at Stepping Stone Emergency Housing, a homeless shelter in Anoka that houses 66 residents on a given day. I also serve as the pastor of Compassion Church in Anoka.
Previous to being in ministry, I was in the restaurant industry for 12+ years and helped open restaurants and train managers. I’m most proud of our authentic relationships and a deep desire to care for those in need.
Networking and finding a mentor can have a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
It’s important to always be open to meeting new people, and I always welcome that opportunity! While some of those conversations are one-time conversations, others may turn into a relationship.
I think building relationships with those in the community is essential not only for business but also to live a joyful life in general. I’m thankful for the ways I’ve been able to meet people in the community and look forward to opportunities to continue to do that in the future.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.compassioncoffeemn.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/compassioncoffeemn
- Facebook: facebook.com/compassioncoffeemn
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/compassioncoffeemn
Image Credits
Auden Photography and Ari Reynolds
