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Hogan’s Homestead Café and R.M. Moore are “giving sparks of positivity” this Pink Shirt Day by adding uplifting messages to every coffee sleeve the café hands out.
For each coffee sold, Hogan’s will donate $1 to Tracy’s Dream, a local charity supporting cancer patients, on behalf of R.M. Moore students for their participation in the initiative.
Pink Shirt Day, observed annually in Canada, raises awareness about bullying while promoting kindness and inclusivity.
Erica Hogan, owner of the café located inside the Sault Ste. Marie airport, told The Sault Star she feels deeply connected to the cause.
“Pink Shirt Day is something we should be representing, celebrating, and honoring every day of the year,” she said. “If we have an opportunity to enhance that through this project with the school, it just makes it even better.”
What began with a single class quickly turned into a school-wide initiative, with all 336 students decorating coffee sleeves with positive messages. These sleeves will be handed out on Feb. 26 for Pink Shirt Day and throughout March.
“All 336 students decided to pitch in and decorate the coffee sleeves,” said Hogan.
Some of the messages read, “You make my day,” “You’re a great worker,” and “Remember, you made someone smile today.” Others feature hand-drawn rainbows, butterflies, and smiley faces.
The students themselves chose Tracy’s Dream for the donation, which works to support and uplift individuals undergoing cancer treatment. They cover parking costs for patients and assist with treatment related travel costs.
Hogan hopes this initiative becomes an annual tradition.
“If we can do this each year with a different charity chosen by the school, I would be on board for the rest of my life.”
Hogan’s Homestead started as a maple syrup hobby, but what began with tapping five trees quickly grew into nearly 30,000 within three years. Hogan and her husband, Spencer Hogan, turned their passion into a full-fledged business.
The café, which opened a year and a half ago, takes a “local approach,” serving coffee brewed in Leeburn through Coffin Valley Supply Co., located 20 minutes east of the Sault.
On a slow day, the café serves about 80 cups of coffee, but that number climbs depending on flight schedules, Hogan said.
She is grateful for the local support of both the café and the coffee sleeve campaign. For those who can’t make it to the airport, she notes that customers can still participate by ordering through Uber Eats, where their coffee will arrive with a decorated sleeve.
“Thank you to everyone for their support,” said Hogan.