The Laneway Healesville joined the other 850 local cafes across Australia for a national campaign to support homeless people on one day in Homelessness Week.
CafeSmart is an annual coffee-led campaign that unites roasters, cafes and coffee enthusiasts around the country to raise awareness and drive donations for local organisations tackling homelessness.
On Friday 8 August, those participating cafes donated $1 from every coffee sold to fund local homelessness services, with every dollar raised staying local to where it’s donated.
“It’s a fun, bright, cheerful way to donate for a great cause,” The Laneway Healesville owner Heather Alcock said.
“I love all the social media parts of it. Everything gets re-shared.”
Besides the $1 donation per coffee they sold on the day, the local cafe set up a jar on a bench where customers could make cash donations.
People also purchased the next 10 coffees upfront to raise more funds for the charity.
In its third year, The Laneway Healesville aimed at raising another $500 to donate to the Yarra Ranges-based homelessness service Anchor.
Over the past two years, the Healesville-based cafe has successfully raised $300 to $400 each year for the same organisation.
Now in its 15th year, CafeSmart is an initiative of StreetSmart Australia and has become a trusted channel for hospitality venues and their customers to give back, locally and directly.
Since its inception, CafeSmart has raised over $2.2 million, funded over 1100 grassroots organisations, mapping funds back into the communities where they were raised – a unique model like no other in Australia, and supported tens of thousands of Australians experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
In 2024 alone, funds raised helped provide direct support to 9300 people across the country, including meals, shelter, hygiene supplies, healthcare, phone credit, and emergency relief.
StreetSmart Australia chief executive officer Alan White said after 15 years of brewing for change, CafeSmart has never been more critical.
“In the face of growing need, cafes and coffee drinkers are stepping up in a simple but powerful way—by turning an everyday ritual into tangible support for people doing it tough,” he said.
