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Success Story #1DONNA CHRISTOFFERSON HELPING OTHERS GO GREEN WHILE SERVING UP A CUP OF GROUND BROWN
It’s been said that one man’s trash is another’s treasure. Donna Christofferson must believe that saying. She’ll gladly accept items from you otherwise bound for the garbage bins...and say thanks a latte! It’s all part of the business plan for her cleverly named venture ‘Junk ‘N Java’. Christofferson has combined a second hand store and a coffee shop, and given it a decidedly ‘green’ theme. After all, the donated items she offers are a prime example of recycling in action. “We just want to see everything given a new life,” explains Donna, adding that “probably 95% of the stuff that we get is in really good shape. And, otherwise it would be taken to the landfill or taken out of town.” In addition, what doesn’t get sold in Red Lake doesn’t get tossed. Many items are in turn sent to non-profit organizations such as the Diabetes Association and the Salvation Army in other locations. “We ship out about a hundred to a hundred and fifty bags of clothes a month and about a hundred, a hundred and fifty boxes a month, over and above what we sell.” As for the ‘Java’ portion of the business, that too is environmentally friendly. Christofferson offers a variety of fair trade coffees in her store for visitors to enjoy. It’s an idea Donna brought with from her previous business in Balmertown “I had a coffee house previous to this for about four years and wanted to introduce Red Lake to fair trade organic coffee,” she explains, “and after we closed, I really missed it and there was no outlet in town for it, so I decided to add the coffee on to the second hand store.” So far, Christofferson says, those who wander into Junk ‘N Java are pleased. “They really like how well organized it is,” reports Donna,” and they just appreciate having a venue for second hand things that are less expensive, and that the things are being reused.” Now having been in Red Lake for about thirty years, Christofferson claims to really like small towns. “Yeah, you know everybody and it’s easy to converse with everyone coming through,” observes Donna, going on to say that “what I like about Red Lake is nature, trees, water, and rocks.” In fact, Red Lake is practically a metropolis compared to where she grew up. Donna spent her early years at Camp Robinson, a former Mando Pulp and Paper Company bush camp. “There were maybe a hundred people or so, it wasn’t very big,” says Christofferson, somewhat understating the case! Donna and partner Jim Walker have four children between them including Christofferson’s nineteen year old son Cody. She also has two sisters that live in Red Lake as well as six nieces and nephews. At the time of this interview, Donna was gearing up for Earth Day and planned to hand out complementary brewed coffee to anyone bringing in their own mug, and also give away some plants. But when asked if she personally had any special plans to mark the event, Christofferson chuckled “not really, I like to think its Earth Day every day here!” She then pointed out enthusiastically a local Green initiative – paper bricks meant to be used as fire starters that Red Lake high school students made out of recycled paper as a fundraiser for a trip to Costa Rica planned for next year. Junk ‘N Java also carries verma compost, provided by the owner of Chukuni Sanitation. “He has a worm farm,” relates Donna, “and he’s looking at expanding, making it bigger. But right now he gets a couple pounds a week and he brings it to us and we sell it.” In the future, Christofferson says she’d like to expand the business and possibly incorporate a natural health store.
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The Chukuni Communities Development Corporation
A Community Futures Development Corporation 137 Howey Street, Box 250, Red Lake, Ontario Canada P0V 2M0 Phone: 807 727-3275 Fax: 807-727-3285 Email List |
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