By Vedang Upadhyay, BEAT reporter
BRUNSWICK, OH- Have you heard of Cups Café? It’s a place that provides a hot meal, a safe space and someone to talk to - at a time when those with financial or emotional challenges need it most. Cups is located at 126 North Court Street in downtown Medina. During the school year, they are open Monday through Friday from 10:00am to 4:00pm (Adults served until 1:00pm; Students ONLY served from 1:00pm to 4:00pm).
Recently, Cups went through a rebranding, switching its name to “Cups Collective”. The name Cups Café only told part of their story, that they are just a normal café, so many wouldn’t have thought a lot about it, but when you really go inside, you are told the other part of the story. They serve food to anyone in need, but unlike a traditional café, they are a nonprofit organization, so everything they offer is free. Because they rely on community donations, they may not always have the exact food people want, but they do their best to provide what they can.
Cups Collective better reflects the café's mission and tells a deeper story than the name Cups Cafe. The new name represents bringing people together and creating a welcoming community, which is at the heart of everything they do. Cindy Maxwell, the owner of Cups Collective, said, “Cups Collective is really positioned to make sure we are a place and space where anyone and everyone is welcome.”
Even with all of that, they still wanted to respect the legacy of Cups Cafe and didn’t want to change the whole name, so they kept Cups in the name. The logo also transitioned from a coffee cup to four people surrounding a cross; this shows that they will serve anyone who comes to the café, regardless of their background or their actual level of need. And if you need some help getting back on your feet, you can go to their small clothing closet with seasonal essentials. There is also a shower, a washer, and a dryer. Cindy stated, “Overall, our goal is to be a place where anyone in the community knows that they can enter and come in and be met with a warm smile and a hot meal anytime.”
While some community members were initially unsure about the name change, they embraced it after understanding its meaning. The name change strengthened the community because the name change brought them all together. Cindy Maxwell said, “I would say that our connection to the community has been strengthened by the name change solely because it represents a gathering together of people.”
This new name shows progress in making a strong community by inviting more and more people. So if you want to be a part of this community, all you need to do is donate food. You never know how much someone needs. By just donating 4 sandwiches, you could be feeding a whole family.
If you want to donate you can visit their location or learn more about Cups Collective on their website, www.cupscollective.org.
Vedang Upadhyay, Brunswick Middle School, is one of over fifty student “backpack journalists” (grades 6-12) in the award-winning BEAT Video Program. The program, celebrating its 25th year, is sponsored by Donut Land, Plum Creek Assisted Living Community, MODA Gifts, Scripps Howard Foundation and the Brunswick Rotary Club. Go to https://www.bcsoh.org/community/new-beat-site to learn more about the Program, or visit https://thebeat.viebit.com/?folder=ALL to view videos produced by the students.
PHOTOS: Inside Cups Collective, where visitors receive food, clothing, recreation and a variety of other support services.