Our official community page was created three years ago

By Angela Garrity, Guest blogger

Three years ago, Jason Heath and others launched The Official Death Wish Coffee Company Community group on Facebook with the help of Johnny Duke Sizemore, Timmy Medley, Holly Snyder, Gary Crawford II, Jamie Robinson, Stephen Youker, Gail Dunmyer, CJ Man, and Lisa Wallarab was also added later as the newest admin.

And because of their hard work, the community has grown by thousands — and is currently more than 4,000 members strong (and rapidly on pace to hit 5,000!).

Photo courtesy of The Official Death Wish Coffee Community Page and member Timmy Medley.

The admins of the page stay fueled and keep everything running as smooth as your morning cup of coffee. They work amazingly to keep things in order, welcome new members, celebrate birthdays, and share all around general pleasantries with all of us who stay caffeinated on our favorite coffee, no matter how each one of us take it. This is all because of their mutual love for Death Wish Coffee, and has attracted members from around the world.

“The page is a place where fans can come together to share their coffee experiences and help support many of the company’s charities,” Dunmyer said. “I have been an active fund raiser for the company for many years; with the Special Olympics, Stop Soldier Suicide and Cystic Fibrosis to name a few. My favorite would be the fan-based coffee drive we have set up to send to our military services overseas.”

Dunmyer and Wallarab worked together to launch Operation Sandbox, which is a donation drive that benefits deployed troops all around the globe twice a year. Every year, they collect coffee, merch, notes, and more to send to servicemen and women overseas.

Wallarab credits the explosive growth of the group to the 2015 Super Bowl commercial win as well as the introduction of the Fueled By Death Cast hosted by Jeff Ayers (Thanks Jeff!) to help fuel the community fire.

Being part of the group is like finding an extended family that you didn’t even realize was missing. Members of the group refer to each other as family because they stay in touch like close relatives do, might exchange gifts and help each other out with mug and merchandise releases.

There are “rules of the house” to keep the group running as smooth as your favorite cup of joe, which are pinned to the top of the group. 

Sizemore shares his profound love of coffee, mugs, and everything branded Death Wish. He credits the camaraderie over coffee that has led him to make hundreds of friendships over the past 3 years.

Robinson expresses his joy he feels being part of team caffeine and looking out for his fellow drinkers of Death.

“I would encourage people to join because the world is a shitty place. When you need to get away from it, you need somewhere to go where people understand you. It’s like the Cheers of Facebook groups,” he said.

Snyder has been drinking Death Wish since 2012. She enjoys being able to talk directly with Death Wish employees at HQ about real concerns and requests.

“It’s an honor to be a part of the group of administrators.  We have all become pretty close over the years. We talk frequently, advise each other with issues on the page and sometimes bounce ideas off each other,” she said. “We are a part of the DWCC family and look out for the best interest of the page and headquarters.”

Community member Holly Snyder with Riki Rachtman, left, and her husband Bill, right.

Snyder Tweeted at Death Wish in 2014, asking if they’d sponsor Riki Rachtman’s first official ride. The bold coffee company has been a long-standing supporter of Riki’s Ride, his Cathouse concerts, and the audio waves that carry the delicious tales of debauchery on Riki Rachtman’s Cathouse Hollywood Podcast. Snyder hopes Death Wish will always be part of Rachtman’s adventures.

In 2018, Riki’sRide raised over $30,000 benefitting Stop Solider Suicide. Riki’s Ride also had multiple Death Wish Coffee stops at local coffee shops along the route. 

If you’re not a member of The Official Death Wish Coffee Community, you’re missing a hell of a good time, amongst good people. We like our coffee and bonds strong here. Come kick ass with us. 

Angela Garrity is a guest blogger for Death Wish Coffee Co. Her work can be found in Vapun Magazine as well as on their website. She’s a member of the Official Death Wish Coffee Community page, too! 

Related: How our community started Operation Sandbox

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