RTHY Despite not being able to travel this past year, the Warrior Coffee Program is going strong. This year marked a record number of sales, with its most significant coming from the Williamsport Wegmans, where shelves could barely stay stocked. The coffee also sold online, in the Streeter Campus Store, and at local Alabaster Coffee Roasters & Tea Co., and for the first time, was exported solely by our Dominican partners. Though the inability to travel has been difficult for the faculty who have established long-term relationships with community members and the students who have looked forward to taking part in our program, this time allowed Lycoming to see that its sustainable development model is working. “We no longer have to manage the process of export because our producer partners can, which means that they can WARRIOR COFFEE PROJECT not only sell to us, but to other international buyers as well,” said Caroline Payne, Ph.D., chair and associate professor of political science and director of community-based learning. On a more personal level, Payne shares she has seen the communities of El Naranjito and Peralta struggle during the pandemic. The people have endured long lockdowns and incredibly high numbers of COVID cases, all with a very limited number of COVID tests and essentially no therapeutics to treat those who were positive. Vaccines were very limited through most of the spring but did become available in April through the World Health Organization’s COVAX program and the Chinese strategy of vaccine diplomacy. Vaccine availability in the rural areas was very limited, which meant transportation to urban centers was needed. “We worked with our partners to pay for transportation costs for those who wished to get vaccinated,” Payne said. “Moving forward, we will continue working with our partners to do what we can to help so that they can remain healthy and safe as they grow, harvest, and process our Warrior Coffee. We cannot think of any better use for some of our coffee profits than to help protect the community that has welcomed us for the past eight years and who look forward to hosting us once again when it is safe to travel.” Learn more about the Warrior Coffee Project and where you can purchase bags of coffee at www.lycoming.edu/coffee. needed services for worthy local causes while strengthening community bonds,” said Samantha Savoca ’24, a business and communication major. “It was also heartwarming to see such a meaningful occasion serve as a means for students from every corner of campus to come together to form new friendships.” 7 www.lycoming.edu
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