Grounds of Grace owner Ron Armstrong is turning a shipping container into a coffee shop. He hopes it will spread his non-profit’s message and help those in need.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Grounds of Grace, a faith-based coffee shop is planning a new concept around Jacksonville.
The local non-profit, Sponsored by Grace, opened the shop last year. It wants to help young people in the community stay out of trouble.
“About a month ago we were gifted this shipping container by Crowley,” Grounds of Grace founder, Ron Armstrong, said.
“By the end of March this thing will be fully decked out as a coffee shop.”
Armstrong, said he looks to employ local teens and teach them life skills.
He said he rode along with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office homicide unit and saw 20 body bags last year, most were teenagers.
“We’re hoping to see 10 or 15 of these around the city that continue to point to the mission that hire locally from our local communities.”
Grounds of Grace has hired local teens, including Josiah Bridges, who lives down the street.
“The job taught me hard work. It also taught me how to handle stress,” Bridges said.
Armstrong believe his shop is making a difference and wants to expand his outreach to other areas of Jacksonville.
“When we talk about putting these around the city, I want to see youth serving right out of here, I’m going to see local moms, local dads, and then we have no idea what this could turn into.”
Armstrong said the project would have cost him $50,000, but everything from the container to the drywall is being donated.
He added he hopes to have the shipping container done by the end of March and is still looking for a location but has a few neighborhoods in mind.
