'Sip of Hope' coffee shop offers help to customers with mental illness

A new coffee shop that opened in Logan Square has an inspiring mission.

A lot of people start their mornings with a cup of joe, so why not do it at a place where all the baristas are trained in mental health first aid and 100-percent of the proceeds go to a foundation for suicide prevention and mental health.

Every new day brings new challenges. For some, it's no big deal. For others, it could be the day that breaks them.

“We're losing more and more people every single day and it's because silence is winning. And the more we talk about it, the more we'll realize we're not alone, we're not crazy, we're not insane,” said Jonny Boucher, founder of “Hope for the Day.”

The beans brewed at "Sip of Hope" on West Fullerton come from a company called “Dark Matter Coffee.” They've partnered up with "Hope for the Day" to create a space where you can get your caffeine fix and maybe so much more.

It’s a break from whatever it is that's bringing you down.

“For the longest time, it was a matter that was greeted with silence, then for a while -- whispers. Now thanks to sip of hope, its being greeted with honest conversation,” said Senator Dick Durbin.

Opening the space is a labor of love for the two young Chicago companies just hoping to make a difference in the world through their specially trained baristas.

“What better place to discuss that early in the morning to start the day then starting a conversation over a cup of coffee,” said barista Luis Arroyo, Jr.

By year's end, "Hope for the Day" plans to train 5,000 people in mental health first aid.