Check Out Melinda Lavenau’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melinda Lavenau.

Hi Melinda, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
ReHope Market and Café was opened in 2019 as a way to support and share the story of Restoration House (a ministry that provides long-term, residential housing with faith-based restorative programs and services for adult women and minor girl survivors of human trafficking). We offer coffee, pastries, breakfast and lunch options, as well as a market area that showcases survivor made goods such as candles, custom-made tumblers, soaps, and beautiful earrings with the partnership of Tirza Designs. The cafe has truly been a community effort; from volunteers fixing up the house ReHope was remodeled out of to local business owners enthusiastically welcoming us to the neighborhood and sending customers our way to our sweet regulars who make slinging coffee a joy! All of our proceeds go directly to Restoration House, so we rely on volunteers and a small staff to maximize the impact customers’ dollars have on fighting human trafficking. Though we had to close down for a while due to COVID, we’re delighted to have weathered the storm thanks to our loyal guests and tasty drinks and treats.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like most other small businesses, COVID brought us challenges, even forcing us to close our doors for a few months. But when we reopened in fall of 2020, we added a drive up window and a spacious patio for more open air seating to accommodate social distancing.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’ve been extraordinarily blessed to be surrounded by caring, hardworking volunteers and baristas who make managing ReHope an absolute joy. Having the common goal of fighting human trafficking and blessing those who’ve survived it bonds the staff of ReHope and keeps us motivated in what could be a mundane and draining job. I believe what sets us apart is our genuine love that starts with the mission but is carried through to every customer we serve and every drink we prepare. It’s impossible to not be deeply changed by the stories of the survivors who’ve been a part of Restoration House, and it’s changed the way I see each guest who visits ReHope. Even small moments of kindness, connection, and generosity can give hope, and hope is the strength we need to make Kansas City a safer place for those at risk of human trafficking.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
You can get coffee anywhere, but you’ll feel more than caffeinated when you walk out of our doors – you’ll feel confident you’re making Kansas City a better place!

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://rehopemarket.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rehopemarketcafe
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rehopemarketcafe
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/rehope-market-and-cafe-greenwood-5
• Other: https://www.restorationhousekc.org/

Image Credits
Nikkie Affholter, Rebekah Dykhuizen