Religious bookstore/coffee shop donates profits to charities

By Terry Oparka
C & G Staff Writer

TROY — Once Beth Collison and her husband, Jim, started to pursue their dream of opening a Catholic bookstore/coffee shop for charity, things came together, well, miraculously.

“A lot of people stepped in to help,” said Beth, executive director for Faith @ Work. “It’s been a life changing experience. There’s been so much enthusiasm from the community and our home parish, St. Anastasia. We felt there was a real need in this area for a Catholic bookstore — the nearest one is a 20 minute drive.”

The store will carry approximately 700 book titles, T-shirts, hoodies, baseball hats with faith-based messages, jewelry, rosaries and religious medals.

The gathering area of the store is a coffeehouse designed for small groups and gives customers a chance to sit and read. The store will sell Capuchin baked goods that will be delivered Thursdays and Saturdays. Soft drinks and other snack items will also be available. Wireless Internet and computers equipped with firewalls are also available for use.

“The unique aspect of Faith @ Work is that it is a not-for-profit business that will benefit several local, as well as global, charities,” said Faith @ Work Communications Director Cathy Martin. “It will also strive to employ the unemployable, such as developmentally disabled adults, and help those in need in our community through various service projects.”

Profits from Faith @ Work will be donated to four charities. Lifewater International digs wells in Africa at a cost of $5,000 a well; Project Linus supplies blankets to children in need or distress; Believe in Miracles sells bracelets to raise money to help children in need seeking treatment at Children’s Hospital of Detroit; and the Capuchin Soup Kitchen in Detroit assists people in need.

Merchandise created by nonprofit organizations, such as Paint a Miracle, Art for a Cause and Angel’s Place, is also sold at the store.

Faith @ Work is open from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. It is closed on Mondays.

Faith @ Work is located at 1977 E. Wattles, just west of John R, on the north side of Wattles, in the Infinity Square Plaza. For information, call (248) 250-9216 or visit www.faithatworktroy.org.

You can reach Staff Writer Terry Oparka at toparka@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1054.