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Jim's Organic Coffee,
Building a Library in Guatemala
OCTOBER 2006

10% of the SALES of Jim's Holiday Blend go towards projects such as the construction of a library in Tzanchaj, Atitlan, Guatemala.

As you know, Jim’s Organic Coffee is the leader in high quality certified organic coffee.  Jim was the very first and remains one of the few 100% dedicated to roasting certified organic coffee.  And, as one dedicated entirely to organic, Jim’s needs to and does set the standard for quality in order to take organics to the level among consumers and wholesale outlets. 

It is this passion for delivering the finest organics that has brought Jim’s Organic Coffee into so many outlets where the quality of the product matters first.  These include Henrietta’s Table in Cambridge, Restaurant Nora in Washington, DC, the Clarke Cooke House in Newport Rhode Island, Vermont’s Kedron Valley Inn and the Harborview Hotel on Martha’s Vineyard, to name a few.  These fine establishments appreciate the fact that Jim’s is Organic but most of all they appreciate the amazing quality and consistency of Jim’s Organic Coffee over any other coffee brand; organic or otherwise.

Since 1992, when Jim began his organic coffee odyssey, he has come to terms with the fact that his company is not the biggest in organic coffee.  But, he – and his customers and staff – continue to take pride in being the best.

Jim’s Organic Coffee Holiday Blend

Every year, Jim celebrates this with his Holiday Blend of which 10% of SALES go to charity.  This is Jim’s Organic Coffee’s way of going above and beyond being 100% organic, shade grown, and fairly traded (or whatever you call it) by supporting specific projects in coffee growing areas. 

The most notable and largest of these projects is the Jim’s Organic Coffee Library in Atitlan, Guatemala.  Since 2002, Jim’s has donated over $10,000 to a school in Tzanchaj, Atitlan.  At first, these monies were spent on necessary improvements like new latrines and cleaner classrooms.  Then, ground broke on the actual library.  The library is situated on the second floor of the school, above the 4th and 5th grade classrooms.  The walls were up and we were looking for an opening of January 2006 when disaster struck. 

In October, 2005, a devastating mudslide essentially wiped out the neighboring village of Panchaj.  Damage to life and structure was extensive.  International Aid groups rushed to the area.  Temporary housing was set up just north of our little school.  So, while much larger charities were able to help in the short run, Jim’s Organic Coffee remains dedicated to helping in the long run.

Funds were diverted (and a charity called Child Aid is who executes this) from the Library project toward building additional classrooms to house more students from Panchaj.  This has taken the bulk of 2006 in both finances and efforts.  Once complete though (hoping for early 2007), the Library will house books in Spanish, a full time librarian, and a study center with an early literacy program.  Jim’s is the main benefactor of this project.  As a very small company, Jim’s Organic Coffee is proud to be involved in such a specific and long lasting project that will enhance the lives of these villagers hopefully for generations to come.

You can do your part to help the library by purchasing Jim’s Organic Coffee Holiday Blend.  It is a blend of Guatemalan Atitlan and Ethiopian Sidamo roasted to a deep chestnut brown.  It has a clean refined taste and is perfect for enjoying with the ones you love.


Jim and coffee farmers in Guatemala