By Oniska Blevins | The Selma Times-Journal

Smiles and warm greetings filled The Coffee Shoppe on Friday afternoon as the shop received the Hope Builders Award presented by the Drug Free Communities of Dallas County’s Hope Builders.

The award is the highest honor given by the organization and awarded annually to one local business that is completely drug and substance free.

Jerria Martin, director of Drug Free Communities of Dallas County, presented the award and said that they were happy to award The Coffee Shoppe for their dedication to the community.

She said the Hope Dealer group promotes drug and alcohol free initiatives throughout the community and in local businesses. She said amongst their initiatives, the group collectively decided to give the Hope Builders Award to a local business that is completely drug and alcohol free.

“The board voted and The Coffee Shoppe won by far as just being this community friendly place,” she said.

Martin said a lot of the issues the city faces can be directly related to substance abuse.

“If you think about all of Selma’s problems, literally the crime, the violence, the poverty, all of it goes back to drugs,” she said.

She said the Junior Hope Dealers are a peer leader group that leads their school and student body into drug free initiatives and programs.

“We’ve created Hope Dealer groups in every school, every middle school and high school has a Junior Hope Dealer group,” she said.

Jackie Smith, owner and operator of The Coffee Shoppe, said when she opened The Coffee Shoppe in 2011, she wanted to provide the community a place where everyone could come and talk over a good cup of coffee.

“I just wanted some small place, like a community gathering place,” she said. “I love people and I love being a public servant.”

She said she wants the shop to be a beacon in the community. She said she loves her customers and has enjoyed serving the community.

“It’s everything to everybody,” she said. “ I just love Selma and I appreciate Selma for supporting me and keeping me here.”

She said having someone notice the hard work of the shop is rewarding and receiving this award was a humbling experience.

“I am very excited, I’m very humbled to be selected,” she said. “God just keeps blessing The Coffee Shoppe and I’m ever so grateful.”