BUFFALO, N.Y. — Hertel Avenue's newest coffee shop doesn't have a cash register.
"What we wanted to do is create a non-traditional business where profit isn't what drives us," Rise Community Coffee House executive director Michael Reid said.
Instead of set prices, everything on the menu is pay what you can.
"Our suggested donation for a 16 ounce cup of finely brewed coffee is only a dollar," Reid said.
"It's totally up to the person. Whatever they want to give that's in their heart, we gladly accept," added volunteer Scott Giorgini.
Rise of WNY is a nonprofit fueled by a network of churches, businesses, and other supporters. Everything they make goes back into the community.
"It's just a friendly place," Reid said. "As you can see. the atmosphere is very comfortable. We wanted that vibe, we wanted an extended living room feel."
The coffee shop is run entirely by volunteers, and they're looking for people 16 and up to work shifts behind the counter.
"We need people to come in who are willing to not just serve coffee, but interact with the people that come in here," Giorgini said. "Whether they're the youth that we're going to put in our work readiness program, or the seniors that come down from upstairs, or anybody in between."
"We encounter everybody, we address everybody, we listen to everybody," Reid said. "We have 136 seniors that live above us and we're very conscious of just hearing what they have to say, giving them a reason to get up in the morning and to come here, just to a very friendly environment."
Rise is located on Hertel Avenue near Parkside.
If you're interested in volunteering, you can stop into the shop Monday to Friday, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
You can also connect with Rise on Facebook.