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Coffee is one of the most beloved beverages in America, with the average coffee drinker drinking just over three cups a day. What if your daily cup of joe could make a difference in your local community? First Responder’s Coffee Company founder Brent Tucker hopes to inspire Americans to do exactly that by offering a line of coffee beans whose profits go directly back to first responders in their communities.
Tucker has an extensive military background, including 8 years with the Green Berets and 12 years with Delta Force. After retiring from the military as a Purple Heart recipient from a combat injury he received during a night raid in Afghanistan, Tucker decided to use his specialized skill set to train law enforcement across the country.
During his time consulting and training law enforcement, Tucker found that the necessary training and equipment needed for law enforcement to handle unique situations is underfunded — if not entirely unfunded. “So many times, I saw police officers, firefighters, and EMTs paying for their own training and equipment,” Tucker explains. “I knew something had to be done about this, and I was not going to stand by and leave first responders unsupported.”
Giving back with your daily cup of coffee
This passion inspired Tucker to found First Responder’s Coffee Company. Through the sales of their signature line of coffee, FRCC raises money for equipment, training, mental health services, and family support for first responders. The company works closely with first responder organizations that provide this necessary support to those on the front lines in the local community and beyond.
Although First Responder’s Coffee Company was founded just a few months ago, the organization has already been able to make an impact on the first responder community in that short time. FRCC sells its coffee and merch through its online store, where sales have already begun to grow thanks to media coverage of the company and its mission.
“We believe in supporting our local first responders, because it is them who will protect our families in a time of need,” Tucker asserts. “When there is a fire to put out, you want a firefighter to be there, or if you’re experiencing a medical emergency, you want an EMT to be there to help. With how underfunded the system is right now, these people are not always able to give the level of help they legitimately want to provide.”
How FRCC partners with first responder associations to give back
FRCC prides itself on its First Responder Association Program, which allows the company to further support the community, striving to make it as easy as possible for organizations to raise money as easily as possible. Unlike other similar companies, FRCC does not require associations to place minimum orders, store products, or handle shipping. Instead, FRCC provides associations with a unique code to use at checkout that allows the retail profits of that sale to go completely and directly to the association.
Additionally, FRCC offers free support to associations to help them get the word out about their new fundraising initiative. “We know how short-staffed associations can be, and first responders often already burn the candle at both ends,” says Tucker. “Our marketing team works with associations to create a custom attachment to send that explains all the program’s details and gets you quickly on the road to raising much-needed funds.”
Great coffee for a great cause
Of course, a program like this is only as good as the product it offers, and FRCC’s is some of the best around. First Responder’s Coffee Company uses 100% gourmet and organic Brazilian Arabica Beans, coming in three roasts: light, medium, and dark. The coffee is roasted in small batches by a master roaster, giving it a distinctly smooth-bodied and sweet taste that is low in acidity. Many coffee drinkers praise the blend for its hints of chocolate and caramel, as well as the slightly nutty notes that shine through.
FRCC currently sells the coffee in five different bags, each designed to represent a different type of first responder organization they support: police, sheriff’s deputies, firefighters, EMS, and K9 units. However, it is important to note that each bag contains the same coffee, so consumers can choose whichever bag they like based on which organization they want to raise funds for.
As the company continues to grow, FRCC hopes to partner with more first responder associations and potentially even begin to move into custom projects. “We are open to the idea of creating a special line of coffee or custom coffee bag for a particular cause, association, or event,” Tucker adds. “We want to give back to the first responder community in any way we can.”
Tucker and his team at FRCC are proud of the work they have already accomplished in helping the first responders community, and hope they will continue to make a difference in their local community and across the country. As more people learn about their mission and the premium quality of FRCC’s coffee, they hope to support more first responders throughout America. Tucker likes to say they offer a “great product with an even greater purpose,” and it’s hard to disagree with that assessment.
