If there are two things we love here in Lakeland, it is our Cafes + give something backSo when we heard about a local cafe that combines these two passions, we knew we had to check it out. Learn ECHO Coffee House: a café that not only makes lattes and macchiatos, but is also good for the community.
When local editor Amelia stopped by the ECHO Coffee House, she tried the “Forever Family” latte, a combination of peanut butter, chocolate and caramel.
Founded by Brent Wernsing, ECHO Coffee was created to ECHO Ministriesa Lakeland-based nonprofit that serves children in foster care. Wernsing and his wife, Christine, have nine children – seven of whom are adopted – and are also foster parents. After moving to Polk County seven years ago, ECHO became a valued resource for their family. “I didn’t have anything like that in Pasco County,” Wernsing told us. “So I contacted the director of ECHO and told her, ‘I want to be on your side.'”
At first, Wernsing helped the organization with web and graphic design. But when the church he pastors moved to a permanent location near Cypress Gardens Boulevard in Winter Haven, he saw a new opportunity next door. “I walked in and thought, ‘this could be a coffee shop,'” he said, and so ECHO Coffee was born.
Foster families can grab a coffee before heading to the ECHO Shop, a free store that offers foster children everything from clothing to school supplies.
Wernsing and his colleagues consciously created the menu to start a conversation. You’ll find coffees like “Reunification,” a blend of hazelnut, honey, and ground cinnamon, as well as energy drinks, tea, and smoothies.
Wernsing told us that every dollar ECHO Coffee earns not only pays its employees, but is also donated to ECHO Ministries. Community members can also make donations there and foster families can shop for free clothing and other items.
“Not everyone is called to be a foster parent,” says Wernsing, “but everyone can help in some way.”
The ECHO Coffee House is open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
