why you should buy coffee from my friend lauren

Sometimes you meet people who you just know are going to change the world. One of the biggest personalities I have ever met belongs to Lauren Sancken, a funny, fiercely intelligent Seattlite my mom and I met on a bus in Bosnia a few years ago (here we are getting our whirling dervish on). By the time we made it to Mostar, we'd realized that we were actually all family members who had just forgotten about each other, and I've had the privilege of being honorary sisters with this amazing girl who is blasting through law school before taking over politics as we know it. Below is a letter from Lauren explaining her latest project. I'm SO proud of this girl, and I hope you can support her as well! She can be reached for coffee orders at sancken@gmail.com.

"This January, myself and two friends, Anthony John and Dr. Christopher Dodd, established a U.S.-based non-profit organization, "Primary Health Care Nicaragua," to support the ongoing efforts of Atención Primaria en Salud Nicaragua (APS). In addition to helping to train and support more than 160 community-based health workers, APS facilities broad public health and micro-economic projects that permanently alleviate many causes of avoidable suffering. For fundraising, we have launched MARAVILLA coffee. Maravilla is an organic Nicaraguan coffee, the product of a collaboration between Nicaraguan coffee growers, Seattle-based Caffè Appassionato, and Primary Health Care Nicaragua. A 12-oz bag may be purchased for $10, and $7 goes directly to APS.

Maravilla can be purchased at Caffè Appassionato (Fisherman's Terminal and Colman Dock), or directly from me! I'm happy to send coffee to distant places, though a postage fee would apply. More information about APS can be found below, and please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions. In addition, all donations of any kind are appreciated.

Thank you very much for your support.
Sincerely, Lauren"

APS is a Nicaraguan non-governmental organization that has been working with the Nicaraguan Ministry of Health to fight disease and promote development in some of the most isolated communities throughout the country. APS funding has been drastically cut in these tough economic times, and our goal is to raise $25,000 by June 2010, and to help APS become a financially solvent organization by January 2011. If you would like to learn more about the work of APS Nicaragua, please visit our website at www.apsnicaragua.org