Editor’s Note: This continues our Celebrate Community series on North Okaloosa County nonprofits that improve our quality of life.
CRESTVIEW — Convergence Coffeehouse is a place to make friends, help the community and sip coffee.
This downtown coffeehouse doesn’t charge for its drinks, but it’s been operating for over 10 years. Relying on donations, the Christian outreach organization puts every dollar received back into its location or the community.
The site strays from a traditional church service and focuses on Bible studies, youth nights and family evenings.
Convergence is non-denominational and several attendees are members of other area churches. Local groups, such as Common Ground Community Garden, also use the building. Two other church organizations also use the building, according to member John Carlson.
Community support is an important goal of Convergence: to go beyond scripture studies and warm beverages. The coffeehouse raised about $35,000 last year and recycled that money back into community efforts.
“If [churches] have huge bank accounts and there are needs in the community, something’s not right,” Carlson said.
Convergence donated school supplies to Crestview High School teachers, gave scholarships to college students, bought a lift chair for a disabled veteran and prepared gift-filled shoeboxes for Samaritan’s Purse. Member volunteers also donated food to the homeless and staffed an area soup kitchen.
Convergence has hosted financial management classes, mentoring and other events.
There are about a dozen active members in Convergence, according to Carlson. These members reportedly donated over 2,000 hours of community service in 2016. About 40 percent of money raised during the year went into these community efforts as well as others. Remaining funds went toward operating expenses such as rent and utilities.
Opportunities for community support are identified by Convergence, and those receiving help don’t have to be a part of the church group, according to member Ken Brown.
Sunday nights at the coffeehouse are reserved for scripture studies and run from 6-7:30 p.m. Family and adult night is 6-8:30 p.m. Saturdays and all attendees must be accompanied by somebody over age 18. Youth night is 6-8:30 p.m. Monday and gets louder than most nights, Brown said.
These times are the only regular hours Convergence operates the building, although other groups use the space at different times during the week.
The location offers free Wi-Fi, a desktop computer, board games and a book library for visitors. Served beverages include teas and hot chocolate for non-coffee drinkers. Over 2,500 free drinks reportedly were served during 2016.
Visit Convergence at 498 N. Wilson St. to attend a themed night, learn more about community outreach or to sip a cup of coffee and find some conversation.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Serving coffee — and the community