STRUTHERS — Habitat for Humanity of Mahoning Valley is renovating its old office space in Struthers to make room for the Three Trees Cafe, a new project that will enhance the organization’s programs.

The organization got its start in 1989. In 2007, the organization opened The ReStore in Struthers and a second one in 2013 in Columbiana, which both carry new and gently used furniture, furnishings and construction materials.

In 2017, it became Habitat for Humanity of Mahoning Valley, and was expanded into Trumbull and Columbiana counties.

Growth is continuing with the addition of a cafe that will do many things in the area.

“In the old office space connected to the ReStore is where I am building the cafe,” said Jack Sebest, who is overseeing the project. “We plan to sell used books, delicious coffee and tea, and eventually build up a menu. We will start out with simple baked goods and experiment with the menu as time goes on. While we want to provide a great drink and a flavorful bite, the mission of the cafe is to support the mission of Habitat for Humanity.”

Sebest said the idea was his and has been in the works for a while. Sebest is from the Youngstown area and lived in Columbus for two years for seminary after graduating high school. He studied philosophy in Columbus and finished his education back home by focusing on communication and nonprofit leadership at Youngstown State University. While at YSU, Sebest interned at the local Habitat. Prior to graduation, he gave a presentation on how he would like to work with a nonprofit organization that did things with food for the community.

Asked how he came up with the name Three Trees Cafe, Sebest replied: “Three Trees represents both our Christian side, as well as our community side. We believe that Jesus died on the cross, after living amongst us, next to two grievous sinners. He always worked with anyone and everyone to show the way. Those three crosses were more than likely on some humble trees rather than some perfectly manufactured cross that we think of today.

“So having that mindset and working with the community to build up everyone, I came up with Three Trees. It shows light to the wood that we use to build houses, it shows that we are a Christian-based operation, and that we strive to build up our community across Mahoning, Trumbull, and Columbiana County.”

FOOD LOVE

Sebest’s interest in food was something he had developed early in life.

“I can remember from such a young age being obsessed with cooking,” he said. “My parents let me get creative in the kitchen from a very young age and still let me cook different things for them even after I made some horrible food as a 7-year-old. My family has always had the focus of the house to be on the kitchen, as that is where we all cook and eat and talk together.”

As a young man, Sebest worked at a nonprofit cafe for a short period of time and learned his way around a commercial kitchen.

“I love to learn online and force myself to try as many things as possible when developing and working with different recipes,” he said. “I have worked a bit for a catering company, as well as cooking at my home or at my girlfriend’s. So I always had a passion for food but developed that a lot more when I was going to school in Columbus. I did not like the food they would provide in the buffet line in the cafeteria so I started to cook meals every moment I had time.”

He said Habitat for Humanity of Mahoning Valley gave him the perfect task, to develop a cafe for the organization.

Today, two years later, that project is underway. The Habitat offices were moved from the ReStore facility at 480 Youngstown-Poland Road in Struthers to a few blocks away at 1919 East Midlothian Blvd. The new location is being called “The Hub.”

“We have been working hard to renovate the former church into our new office spaces and also use it to store a lot of construction equipment,” he said. “We have a lot of big plans for the Hub. We will teach classes, whether it be anything from finances, to home repairs, to cooking. We want to also make a tool library and are launching a repair program.”

GOOD WORKS

As for the Three Trees Cafe, he hopes to bring people into the world of Habitat. He wants it to grow the reach of the good Habitat does.

“It’s to drive people into the ReStore as much as it is to bring on new volunteers to the worksites,” he said.

Sebest said he saw a cafe in another state and actually paid it a visit.

“After some research on nonprofit cafes, I found out one existed in Charlotte, North Carolina,” he said. “I even went and visited and talked with the workers there. It was a very helpful experience.”

The first location is in Struthers but if it takes off and serves its purpose, then this can certainly be something to consider in multiple locations. The Habitat for Humanity of Mahoning Valley also has a ReStore in Salem at 1965 N. Ellsworth Ave.

Sebest also mentioned working with local producers and roasters in the area, and eventually having a garden program. He said a garden plot is being prepared this year in back of the cafe and it will be ready to use next year.

Sebest recently addressed a Canfield Rotary Club meeting to reveal the new cafe. He was joined by Becca Simon, Habitat’s director of development. She said since the organization began, it has built more than 140 houses, and employs more than 20 people.