Local business owners like Inna and Andrew Taylor open their businesses to share a passion with others and to create spaces where people can connect. This was their intention when they opened Great Awakenings Coffee Shop in Hyannis in November 2021. Their coffee house not only aims to serve coffee, tea, and matcha but they also aim, as Inna puts it, to “serve the community for greater good.”
In addition to investing in other local food products like Three Fins Coffee, Cape & Islands Tea and White Lion Bakery (keeping more money in our local economy), Great Awakenings serves the community by using their space to help to raise awareness about global issues like human trafficking and Russia’s war in Ukraine, which hits close to Inna’s heart, as she was born in Ukraine.
Inna and Andrew’s efforts when the war first started was to send financial assistance and supplies to people they knew in Ukraine who were doing doing things like helping orphans and children with special needs, taking care of animals who couldn’t evacuate the country with their owners, and sending combat tourniquets to soldiers on the front lines. Their initial efforts when the war first started in February 2022 raised close to $25,000.
Their commitment to raising awareness and sending aid to Ukraine has persisted, as they continue to collect medical supplies, host conference calls for Cape Codders with people on the ground, and using their one-year anniversary in November as a platform to collect donations for Ukraine relief.
Their motto? “Make coffee, not war,” noting that all Russians and Russian speakers are always welcome to share a cup of coffee and conversation at Great Awakenings.
Have a similar shop local story? Or want to share how a local business you know is giving back to the community, working with other local businesses or providing employment opportunities in a unique and interesting way? Head to lovelivelocal.com/shoplocalstories to nominate a local small business.
