Jaime McKinley, Jeremy Layden, and Anna Canepa

Years ago, Anna started working on her vision of a coffee shop where the whole family feels

welcome. By using the library and the Small Business Development Council for direction, she began the

daunting task of learning how to open a small business. After almost two years of slowly moving along,

a friend connected her with Jaime, who had always dreamed of opening a coffee shop.

Even though Jaime McKinley had always had this desire, she found herself in other jobs to pay

the bills. One day in a conversation with a friend, she heard that Anna was working on opening a coffee

shop for families. Despite the challenge ahead, she said yes to the idea, and they started moving

forward with plans together! With the support of their families and God’s guidance, they were making

progress. When Jaime reached out to a coffee supplier in Meriden to discuss sourcing his coffee, he

proposed something unexpected.

Jeremy Layden is the head roaster for Mighty Beast Coffee Roasters in Meriden, Kansas, and he

had his eye on a small location in Hunter’s Ridge that was just begging to be turned into a coffee shop.

The only thing he needed was someone to run the little coffee shop! Seeing these two gals with plans

but no place to call theirs yet, he proposed the location, and together the three of them decided that

this was the right path to take. “A strand of three cords is not easily broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12

Jeremy has a wealth of expertise in both coffee and construction, so he was able to transform

the old bank drive through into a tight and efficient drive-through coffee shop. As he, Anna and Jaime

searched for a name for their business, they discussed the real fear of loans, quitting jobs, and going out

on a proverbial limb. Matthew 10:29-31 says, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of

them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.   And even the very hairs of your head are all

numbered.    So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Since each of them had

carefully sought God’s guidance in this decision, they stepped forward in faith and chose the name

Sparrow Coffee Co. to remind them of God’s provision.

Even though Sparrow Coffee Co. is currently only a drive-through location, the future plans are

to use the drive-through as a springboard to opening the family-friendly coffee shop where people can

connect. We truly want to make each person’s day better, and we recognize that small things matter.