CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas \u2014 Agape Ranch is once again teaming up with coffee shops in the Coastal Bend as the \u201cSleeves of Support\u201d campaign returns to raise awareness for foster and vulnerable children.<\/p>\n
The annual event, which coincides with National Adoption Month, has been a point of pride for Agape Ranch over the past four years. The campaign involves several coffee shops giving customers special sleeves with each order. Each sleeve includes a small QR code that links to information about foster care and ways to support children and youth in need.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a lot of kids whose parental rights have been terminated, and they\u2019re just praying for a forever home,\u201d Shannon Murphy, community relations coordinator for Agape Ranch, told KRIS 6 News. \u201cA lot of people are looking for babies, but the reality is that the average age of a foster child is 8 years old. We\u2019re looking for families willing to adopt older children, especially teenagers before they age out of foster care.\u201d<\/p>\n
This year, D&C Fence Co. donated the coffee sleeves. \u201cI think it\u2019s important to support an event like this because you\u2019ve got to remember you\u2019re giving back,\u201d D&C Project Management Coordinator Jeremy Tinsley told KRIS 6 News. \u201cThere are kids out there with needs that must be met and families taking them in, so I think it\u2019s important for everybody to come together as a community and help support everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of the participating coffee shops is Stingers Coffee, which has taken part in the event every year. Owner Hollie Weaver said she\u2019s proud to continue the tradition. \u201cWe see them sitting in the drive-thru, scanning the QR code and reading up on it,\u201d Weaver said. \u201cEach year, to participate in this event and help with this. I just think it\u2019s really important that we get the information out about these children who need help.\u201d<\/p>\n
The following locations will participate in the event, which Murphy said will run until all sleeves have been distributed:<\/p>\n
Stingers Coffee (both locations)Bell\u2019 Aroma Cafe (all three locations)Bloom City Coffee (both locations)Cafe CalypsoCentral KitchenCoffee Waves (all locations)Crossroads Coffee House & Co.Driftwood CoffeeThe Grind Coffee CompanyIsland Joes (Padre Island and CCIA locations)Love Birds CafeNueces CafeSacred SipsWednesdays Coffee Co.<\/p>\n
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