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By
Melanie Ave, Times Staff Writer
In print: Sunday, March 30, 2008
Volunteer Earl Jones, 54, formerly homeless, helps bus tables at the Salvation Army’s “Downtown Cafe” on Fourth Street S. “It’s a real good encouragement,” said Jones, a recovering alcoholic.
There's a line of people out the door at one of the city's newest coffee shops.
The "Downtown Cafe'' opened about a month ago. There has been no advertising. No signs. But word travels fast among its target customers: St. Petersburg's homeless.
Open from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday through Thursday at the Salvation Army, 1400 Fourth St. S, the cafe offers free coffee and snacks.
Just like Starbucks, it goes beyond java. There's atmosphere — soft music, quiet conversation, a dozen small tables and comfy seats.
"It's good people,'' said Joe Denny, 55, a former pipe fitter who has been homeless after losing his job three months ago. "You don't have all the trouble, the riffraff.''
Organizers offer a 10-minute daily biblical message but tell customers they can step outside if they prefer not to hear it.
According to regular Earl Jones, 54, a recovering alcoholic (47 days sober, he says with pride), the coffee's not bad either.
"It's a real good encouragement,'' he said. "It helps keep me clean. That's my main thing.''
So far, the cafe averages 95 customers a day. They savor coffee in glass cups with real spoons.
It's about giving the homeless dignity, something they struggle to have when sleeping outside, said organizer Cory Harrison, 30, downtown corps director.
Already he and his wife, fellow cafe organizer Laura Harrison, 31, are trying to find a bigger setting. (The Harrisons brought the idea with them from the Chattanooga, Tenn., Salvation Army.)
The Harrisons try to form informal relationships with the coffee drinkers so they can help them with their struggles, whether it's unemployment, mental illness or drug addiction.
Someday, they hope to transform the coffeehouse into a residential Bible institute where the homeless can train for two years, receive stable housing and run the cafe before launching into full-time ministry.
One recent Thursday at the cafe, Cory Harrison read from 2 Corinthians about suffering.
"You guys don't know anything about that, right?'' he said.
"Yeah, right,'' replied Robert Trowbridge, sitting in the back in a camouflage jacket and jeans, cupping a coffee with cream and sugar.
After the message, Trowbridge turned to a man at the next table.
"What you been up to? Just chillin'? This coffee is good on a cold morning. Is that your paper? Can I have it when you're done?''
Just another day at the cafe.
Melanie Ave can be reached at mave@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8813.
>>Fast facts
Want to help?
The Salvation Army is seeking volunteers and cash donations to support the "Downtown Cafe,'' whose supplies cost about $40 a day.
It also is accepting snacks like cookies, honey buns, breakfast bars and muffins, and sugar and creamer.
For more information, call or write Cory Harrison, Salvation Army downtown corps director, at (727) 550-8080 or P.O. Box 10909, St. Petersburg, FL 33733.
[Last modified: Mar 29, 2008 06:03 AM]
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