Englewood opens cafe to first responders

JACKSON, Tenn. — Englewood Baptist Church opens its doors on a new space and puts a focus on those who wear the badge every day.

“This cafe, called the Refill, is really designed to bless people and minister to people in a variety of ways,” Englewood Pastor Jordan Easley said. “One way is that we can serve our first responders by giving them access to this space.”

Just as a call can go out at any time of day or night, this drink stop also will be available any time to these men and women who serve.

“These cold nights, they’re out coming in from a fire at 2 o’clock in the morning, there’s not a lot of restaurants open,” Madison County Fire Chief Eric Turner said. “Sometimes you don’t want to go in and get in the hustle and bustle. It’s nice to have a place they can come in, wind down, get a cup of coffee.”

The drinks are available at no cost. It’s something Pastor Jordan Easley said they wanted to do to serve those who serve them.

“We just believe every time these men and women put their uniforms on, they’re a blessing to our community,” Pastor Easley said. “We as a church wanted to be a blessing to those who bless us all the time, and so this is just a token of our appreciation.”

It’s a place Chief Turner said also will be a place for his firefighters to debrief.

“A lot of these things first responders are involved in are very bad things,” Turner said. “It’s the worst thing that person you just dealt with is going to go through in their lifetime, and it’s hard on first responders. So if they can sit down together and have a discussion about it, get it off their chest, it’s huge.”

First responders were given an access code to the Refill. The space is open at The Inn, which is right beside Englewood Baptist Church on North Highland Avenue.