Our Story

 

Every day, coffee shops in the Champaign-Urbana area discard an aggregate of around 120 pounds of used coffee grounds to landfills, and a hotel can go through 50 bars of soap daily. We recognized that coffee grounds and soap can be utilized beyond their traditional uses. Through the upcycling of discarded soap and coffee grounds, we are able to create sustainably sourced soap and jars of body scrub. 

In conjunction with our product development, we saw a need presented by Restoration Urban Ministries, a transitional housing facility for a number of adults who aspire to rebuild their lives. Restoration Urban Ministries (RUM) is a faith based organization that helps its residents through classes and workshops about employment, education, spiritual guidance, substance abuse, and many other recovery programs. Many of these residents are looking to RUM and its programs to get back on their feet. In collaboration with RUM, Grounds for Growth looks to give the residents a starting point in their new lives that will lead them to bigger and better opportunities. Each week, members of Grounds for Growth visit the residents to teach lessons on vocational skills, financial literacy, and facilitate the necessary business procedures, including manufacturing, sales, and ownership. All revenue created from this business benefits the residents of Restoration Urban Ministries. The business experience Grounds for Growth provides will help them acquire valuable skills that can be transitioned into other jobs.

 

 

​

​

​

​