You’ve heard of “Win, Win;” Well 41 &​ Change Offers a “Win, Win, Win!”

By Gordon Anaple
may 20, 2020

“I can support sending kids from Nicaragua to Young Life camp AND support kids from Loudon County Young Life? Sign me up, I am in!” exclaimed Moose Valliere. As a former area director and current committee member, Moose understands the challenges associated with raising funds for camp. 41 & Change Coffee Co. has helped send 6,000 kids to camp from over 30 nations, in addition to supporting kids from Nicaragua! This program works as each bag of coffee sold has a multi-dimensional impact: Nicaraguan farmers are provided wages that exceed what is typical, Young Life Nicaragua camping is supported and funds are distributed to whatever Young Life area the purchaser elects! Win, win, win!

Today, two Young Life alumni, Aaron Amidon and Ben Bonham, are on the leadership team for 41 & Change Coffee Co. Aaron helped with every stage of developing and launching 41 & Change, and is thrilled with the addition of Ben Bonham to the team! Aaron met Kindra, his future wife, through Young Life as high schoolers in Gig Harbor, Washington. They also worked together as baristas at Cutter’s Point Coffee. In college, they both served as Young Life leaders while continuing to work as baristas. Upon graduation, Aaron took a sales role in the coffee industry and, before long, he returned to Cutter’s Point Coffee. Jesus Christ, coffee and Young Life have shaped the

Amidon family! Today, Aaron and Kindra have three children and serve as Young Life and WyldLife leaders in Gig Harbor. In Kindra’s words, “As Young Life provided a place for us to make our faith our own in high school, it now provides the same opportunities for our own children ... we get to be Young Life leaders for our kids and their friends — that is the best!”

The newest member of the 41 & Change team, Ben, has a story that mirrors Aaron’s. Ben and his wife, Lana, both met the Lord through Young Life in Springfield, Ohio. These high school sweethearts served as Young Life leaders through college and then married shortly after. In Ben’s words, “Surrounded by godly community, we were encouraged and had the desire to serve which caused us to grow.” Ben joined Young Life staff right out of college, and for 19 years he served as the area director for Young Life in Springfield. Today, Ben and Lana are parents to four children, and continue to lead Young Life in Springfield. Ben reflected, “We are different parents, spouses, friends — we are

different people because of Young Life!” In 2014, Ben took the first of several service trips to La Finca, our Young Life camp and coffee farm in Nicaragua. Several years later, Ben’s area launched a 41 & Change coffee subscription fundraiser with great success. Ben’s team was able to generate $6,000 in the first year of promoting subscriptions. Coffee lovers were thrilled with the coffee, and the area was able to reduce the cost of camp significantly! ​

Whether you are a volunteer leader, a committee member or an alumnus, we invite you to consider 41 & Change Coffee Co. to help us send kids to camp! A subscription service will allow you to enjoy great coffee that is delivered to your home regularly. 41 & Change consistently sources and produces coffee that scores in the top 3% of all coffee in the world (rated by a certified Q grader). According to Ben, “What makes 41 & Change so unique is that all the proceeds are channeled directly back into the mission of Young Life. Kids in Nicaragua get to go to camp and YOUR kids are able to fundraise for camp as well. For each bag sold, the purchaser can designate what Young Life area they would like to support!”

To learn more about 41 & Change, please go to www.41change.com​ and or click HERE​ to view a brief video clip. Go HERE​ to view a fun explanation of the subscription process. Subscribing or buying 41 & Change is simple via the website. ​ Select your coffee, select desired frequency of delivery, designate which area receives your giveback and then check out!

If you would like to discuss traveling to La Finca, or any of our other Young Life camps in the U.S. or abroad, please contact me, Gordon Anaple! I serve as a Young Life Alumni and Friends Advancement Coordinator and can be reached at ganaple@sc.younglife.org​.