You may have heard me talk about one of my favorite coffee shops, the Mocha Lounge. I have taken photos there for fun at times and since it’s just down the road from me, it’s my pit stop on mannnny occasions, including days I just can barely get myself to the grocery store. The owners are a super sweet couple with their own young family, so I love supporting what they bring to the community as a small biz.

They recently had one of their very young employees, Amanda McLaughlin, 21 and a student from out of state at IPFW, pass away recently from a tragic hit and run accident.

When I lost my husband and my sister, I saw that their workplaces torn apart with grief. I see that in the faces of the Mocha Lounge as well and my heart goes out to them.

I just received a newsletter from The Mocha Lounge with this message, and wanted to pass it on.

“Some of our Mocha Lounge friends and customers are going to be building a “kids room” or as we will call it “Little Friends” room in our back room That will be in honor of Amanda Mclaughlin, and also in her name. This room will be perfect for parents to come in to our shop with their kids, and feel comfortable, chat, and drink their coffee in a place that is just a bit secluded from the rest of the customers, and very kid friendly with books, toys, games and comfy furniture.

Amanda LOVED the Mocha Lounge kids, and would run around and play with them in the coffee shop (when we would let her) and we feel this would be exactly what she would want, so that the little ones came in more often.

HERE’S WHERE WE NEED YOUR HELP: If you or anyone you know would like to donate to this project, have access to free or inexpensive building materials, would like to donate your time, or if there is any way else you think you could help us complete this, please let us know! We have a few people ready to start personally working on this project, so any help would be greatly appreciated!”

Besides the fact that it would be awesome to have a place to go have coffee AND take Miles, it would be wonderful for the staff to direct their grief to something they can all be proud of doing in Amanda’s memory.

Their website is down right now, but if you have any ideas on how you would like to help, here is their email: mochalounge1@hotmail.com

Or you can stop into their shop on 6208 Covington Road in Fort Wayne.

Here was one of the times I took some photos at the Mocha Lounge. I had a photo due to Matilda Jane Clothing but it was April, freezing and rainy outside, so I hopped over to the Mocha Lounge to take advantage of their big front windows. Plus, if you are a friend of mine, there’s a very big chance that I took your photo there when I was first starting out and dying for some big window light to play in.

Thanks for letting me share this project. Anytime I can help people do good things by working through their grief, I’m all for it.