Meet Cindy Maxwell | Executive Director, Cups Cafe Inc

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cindy Maxwell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cindy, how does your business help the community?
Cups has the privilege of serving hope to our community one cup at a time. That means, we offer a safe, welcoming space for anyone and everyone to visit. We offer a hot meal for free, every day. We provide listening ears and smiling faces. We help make your tough days a little easier and your good days even better. We do this all through serving a generous God – who has provided all our needs for over 16 years. The community has been a huge support and allows us to do all that we do on 100% donations.

We also help provide some other basic needs: laundry and shower for those in need; small clothing closet for essentials; food pantry with non-perishables and cold/frozen foods available without an appointment. Connection to other community resources that we do not provide – and even help with phone calls if needed.

Every afternoon, we reserve the cafe for students. The afterschool crew is welcome to hang out, grab a bite to eat, get free tutoring, and visit with safe, trusted adults. It is an honor to extend our space to students and share that they have hope and a future!

What should our readers know about your business?
Well, Cups Cafe is a very special place. As the only free, community cafe in our area – we provide something that no one else is able to. Free, hot meals are provided Monday – Saturday, for anyone who visits the cafe.

What I am most proud of is the community that is created at Cups – our regular’s welcome new guests to the cafe with open arms and lots of advice! I see people who are living in their cars, offer to help someone else who is having a tough time. I see people give to the cafe, when they have very limited resources. Everyone can make a difference and at Cups, we get the privilege of seeing that!

We also offer a unique service in providing a space for kids to come afterschool. There are not a lot of places that you can go as a pre-teen or teenager with a large group of your friends. So, every afternoon, we hang out, feed, and connect with 50-55 students!

The world needs to know we exist! In Medina and the surrounding areas, it is our hope that everyone would know about us
and share what we do.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Medina is a great place, when my daughter-in-law visits, we always start with a walk around the square. There are so many unique shops and special local businesses that are part of what makes Medina great. Breakfast at Jane’s is a must – the food is great; the people are even better! But also, the breakfast sandwich at Cool Beans is a must — good thing we can order it whenever! Cupcake a Day and Chill are our favorite spots to fix our sweet cravings. Then, we would venture out to some of the Medina County parks. My favorite is Buckeye Woods – it is just peaceful, has a great walking trail, and in the fall – the trees are exquisite! We also love bookshops – so we visit Project Learn’s bookstore on the square; find good reads and help others in the process, a win-win! If we are lucky enough to be visiting during the summer – Main Street Medina has the best Farmer’s Market – that just happens to be at our lovely square. It is always a joy to get great products and support local!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My shoutout is two-fold. Everything I have is a gift from the Lord. He has been so faithful to me, and it is because of His grace and mercy, that I am able to do what I do now. The best gift He gave me is a family of friends that are always in my corner. Cheering me on, praying for me, and telling me about myself when no one else will. This family of friends shows up! They support me in my endeavors and help me be the best me. Sometimes, that means real talk – transparency – laughing and crying. But the support of this family is my constant reminder of just how sweet God is. In thanking my family of friends, I want to give a shoutout to Medina Ohio. I am originally from a small town in Alabama – where everyone really does know everyone and are willing to help anyone out. I experience that same type of support in Medina. The town is full of generous, compassionate people. As the Executive Director of Cups, I have seen that generosity and compassion work every single day to help extend hope and needed resources to those in our community.

Website: www.cupscafe.org

Instagram: cupscafemedina

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cupscafe

Image Credits
Destiney McVicker