Salvation Army tries to boost funds by appealing to the taste buds
KTUU-TV
by Jeffrey Hope - June 6, 2005
 Anchorage, Alaska - It costs big money for the Salvation Army to run its programs every year. The organization spends $18 million on Anchorage programs alone. But one program may be getting a financial jolt in the months ahead as the Salvation Army gets into the coffee business.
In the last year and a half, the doughnut section at Fred Meyer shows the Salvation Army is in the doughnut business. For every box of Salvation Army-labeled doughnuts that’s bought, the organization gets about a dime.
 “It’s kind of junk food with a cause. You, in return for your investment in paying $1.50 or $2.00 for this box of doughnuts, know that some of your money is going to help people in need in our community,” said Jenny Ragland, the spokeswoman of the Salvation Army.
Enter what could be the perfect match for doughnuts: coffee. The Salvation Army will soon begin selling five blends of gourmet coffee for $9.75 a bag, or you can buy a single cup. For now the coffee will only be sold at the Dimond branch of the thrift store.
 A corner of the store will have a coffee shop atmosphere. People will be able to grab a book, sit down on some furniture and sip coffee and read. But there's a big difference between this and other places because everything in the store is for sale.
“We want to increase people’s awareness of the Salvation Army thrift stores,” Ragland said. “I think in the minds of many people, the Salvation Army thrift stores kind of like a second-hand junk store, which is really not the case. Yes, we sell used goods, but we have quality merchandise.”
 The Salvation Army will make $3 a bag on the coffee, with all the proceeds going directly into the Anchorage-based adult rehabilitation program. The program helps men recover from substance abuse while teaching them life skills. Gary Shields is in the program. The Valley builder says he's been a functioning alcoholic for years.
“I’m just now coming to terms. And I'm doing that through this program -- learning that this is a disease and there's a way out, there's hope, there's a future for us,” said Shields (below).
 As for the future of Salvation Army coffee, Ragland isn't ready to make any financial predictions. But she has the support of one of her future competitors.
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