From Foster Youth to Giving Hope: Celebrating 14 Years of Faith, Coffee, and Purpose with Balinda “B”

“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 1:6

Every once in a while, God writes a story so beautiful that only He could receive the glory.

Today is one of those stories.

Today we celebrate Balinda—our beloved “B”—for 14 incredible years with Covenant Coffee.

For many people, fourteen years is simply a work anniversary.

For us, it is fourteen years of watching God redeem a life, strengthen a leader, and use one person’s story to inspire hundreds of others.

More Than an Employee—She’s Family

B isn’t just one of our longest-serving team members. She’s family. In many ways, she is like a daughter to me.

I’ve watched her laugh, cry, overcome impossible obstacles, grow in her faith, develop into an incredible leader, and become one of the most dependable people I’ve ever had the privilege to work alongside.

If you know B, you know exactly what I’m talking about. If you don’t, let me introduce you to someone who embodies the heart of Covenant Coffee.

A Story That Nearly Ended Differently

B’s story began long before she ever pulled an espresso shot. She grew up in foster care and experienced challenges that many people never face in a lifetime.

Gang influences. Struggles in school. The heartbreaking loss of family members. Encounters with the law. Trauma. Instability. Pain.

Statistics would have suggested that her future was already written.

Unfortunately, too many young people aging out of foster care continue to face overwhelming odds. Each year, more than 15,000 young people age out of foster care without achieving permanency, and many experience significant barriers in housing, education, and employment. Research shows that roughly one in four former foster youth experiences homelessness during the transition to adulthood, and many struggle to find stable employment and lasting support.

But statistics don’t tell the whole story. God does.

Why This All Matters So Much

“At age 21, only about six in ten foster youth are employed, and having a job does not necessarily mean having stable hours, adequate wages, benefits, or a pathway to advancement,” shares Randy Martin, Chief Encouragement Officer at Covenant.

Statistics don’t tell the whole story, but they do support Covenant Coffee’s approach. Young people need more than placement into an entry-level job. They need transportation, housing stability, identification documents, dependable adults, trauma-informed supervision, job coaching, education, financial literacy, and opportunities to advance. That is the difference between simply getting a job and building lasting economic power. B has done it all with faithful partners and hard work.

Check These Stats out:

• 59% of foster youth nationwide were employed at age 21 in federal fiscal year 2024. This includes both part-time and full-time employment. That also means approximately 41% were not employed when surveyed. Child Trends analysis of federal NYTD data
• In California’s CalYOUTH study, 58.7% of former foster youth were employed at age 23, compared with 90.4% of young adults in the general population at the same age. UC Berkeley TAY Research and Evaluation Hub
• California administrative records showed that 42.8% of foster-care-involved youth had earnings at age 18, increasing to 57.3% by age 22. Having earnings meant earning at least $50 during one or more quarters, so this does not necessarily represent stable or adequate employment. UC Berkeley TAY report
• Among unemployed CalYOUTH participants, at least 75% said they wanted a job or might want one depending on the circumstances. By age 23, almost 65% of those seeking employment wanted full-time work. This is important: the problem is generally not a lack of desire to work.
• Each additional year in California’s extended foster care was associated with approximately 1.5 additional months of employment and $2,300 in additional earnings between ages 21 and 23. Employment and Youth With Foster Care Experience

Still, Redemption Has a Name

The enemy may have tried to define B by her past. Jesus chose to redefine her by His grace. Over the last fourteen years, I have watched God transform a young woman into one of the finest leaders Covenant Coffee has ever known.

She didn’t simply survive. She flourished. She became living proof that your past does not determine your future.

She Has Done It All

If you’ve been around Covenant Coffee very long, you’ve probably seen B wearing more hats than anyone else.

She’s been…

• A barista serving thousands of customers.
• A coffee roaster mastering the craft through training and certifications.
• The face behind our beloved Pink Lady mobile espresso trailer.
• A mentor.
• A trainer.
• A problem solver.
• A teammate everyone depends on.

Simply put… If something needs to be done… B is already doing it.

Coffee Is What She Makes. People Are Who She Serves.

One of my favorite things about B has nothing to do with coffee.

It has everything to do with people.

She loves our customers.

She remembers names.

She remembers favorite drinks.

She notices when someone is having a rough day.

She celebrates birthdays.

She encourages people who are hurting.

Consequently, she serves every cup with excellence because she understands something we talk about often at Covenant Coffee:

Every customer is created in the image of God and deserves to be treated with dignity, kindness, and genuine hospitality.

That isn’t just customer service.

That’s ministry.

“Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.” (Colossians 3:23)

B lives that verse every single day.

Making Bad Ass Coffee…and Even Better Futures

People often ask me what makes Covenant Coffee different.

The answer isn’t our espresso machines.

It isn’t our roasting equipment.

It isn’t even our incredible coffee.

It’s our people.

We believe coffee is simply the vehicle.

Hope is the destination.

Every latte, every cappuccino, every bag of coffee we roast helps support our mission of restoring lives and transforming generations by creating opportunities for foster youth and young adults. B makes Covenant Community Services what it is today!

B understands that better than anyone because she once stood where many of our youth stand today.

Now she’s helping write a different ending for someone else.

That’s the Gospel in action.

Why Her Story Matters

When someone visits Covenant Coffee, they’re not just supporting a local coffee shop.

They’re investing in stories like B’s.

They’re proving that hope is stronger than trauma.

That faith is stronger than fear.

That purpose is greater than pain.

And that one life transformed by Christ can help transform hundreds more.

B is living proof.

Congratulations, B!

B, thank you.

Thank you for believing in this mission.

Thank you for loving our customers so well.

Thank you for serving with excellence.

Thank you for mentoring others.

Thank you for reminding every young person who walks through our doors that their past is not their future.

And thank you for helping us make some bad ass coffee while giving hope to the next generation of foster youth.

We love you.

We’re proud of you.

Most of all, we’re grateful for what God has done—and continues to do—through your life.

Happy 14th Anniversary, B.

Here’s to many more years of faith, coffee, and changing lives—one cup at a time.

About Covenant Community Services

Covenant Community Services is a faith-based nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring lives and transforming generations. Through Building Blocks Transitional Housing, Cornerstone Transitional Housing, Cornerstone THP-NMD, and Covenant Coffee, we provide current and former foster youth with safe housing, supportive relationships, employment experience, education, life-skills development, and pathways toward lasting independence.

We believe every young person deserves more than temporary assistance—they deserve a community that recognizes their God-given value, believes in their potential, and walks beside them as they build a hopeful future. Every purchase from Covenant Coffee and every contribution to Covenant Community Services directly supports our mission of empowering foster youth to heal, grow, work, and thrive.

Learn more, shop with purpose, or join our mission at CovenantCoffee.org.