Along with a variety of coffees, Overflow Coffee has breakfast burritos, scones, brownies, five types of muffins and a variety of bagels.
Manager Desirea Payne said 14- and 15-year-olds come in after school, so when they reach the working age of 16, they have a job right away. They also prepare the teens so they can get a food handler’s card when they turn 16.
Overflow Coffee is owned by Word of Life Assembly of God Church in Chino Valley. Student workers come from the church’s youth group, which meets every Wednesday night. Those who are 16 can be hired immediately.
The coffeehouse opened 10 years ago. Payne started working almost from the beginning after completing college in Texas.
Payne’s mom, Rhonda Ehlert, executive pastor at Word of Life, created Overflow Coffee, which now has eight staff members along with the young volunteers. Some seniors volunteer there as well.
Word of Life has a teen pregnancy center right next to Overflow Coffee, where pregnant teens can come for help whether they are single or just young moms. Carrie Barnes heads the teen pregnancy center, which has been open for three years. It offers classes and has a baby store.
Along with a variety of coffees, Overflow Coffee has breakfast burritos, scones, brownies, five types of muffins and a variety of bagels.
The shop itself offers customers a large, comfortable lobby and patio, along with a conference room that can be rented to groups. The facility has microphones and a sound system. Often, speakers from the church give presentations. A musician performs every Tuesday at 9 a.m.
Community events are hosted here as well, such as Coffee with a Cop once a month and periodic car shows. Hours are extended as needed.
“We get so busy. I love it when we’re packed,” said Payne. “Over time, we have become really busy because we have a lot of loyal customers. The growth in business has just been wonderful to watch.”
Payne recounts how her mother came up with the vision for the coffeehouse 12 years ago. She raised money to start the business through the church. Any profit goes to the church’s youth program. QCBN
By Stan Bindell, QCBN
Photos by Stan Bindell: Desirea Payne manages teen and senior volunteers along with a staff of paid workers to keep the coffeehouse flowing.
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