Hope Filled Cafe

Making Life Better For Others

When pilots follow their faith to help others, this is what happens. Captain Andrea Ratfield is far more than the circumstances life has thrown at her. She is proof that the hardest of times can be your greatest strength. Difficult times and life challenges will either break you or provide the fuel to create change. Andrea has opted to view her life challenges as gifts from God that gave her strength. Her faith has guided her through the most difficult journey. 

Her kindness and compassion shine through in all she does. Andrea is a single mother of two sons, one of which is autistic. She has identified the need for children with challenges to have a safe place to grow, learn and become positive members of society. Therefore, Andrea formed the Non-Profit company Hope Filled Cafe. 

A café with a unique purpose. But she needs your help to make this a reality and get it off the ground.  

"We're on a mission to make hope happen by creating a space where everyone feels welcome and valued. Did you know that individuals with autism and cognitive disabilities face an 85% unemployment rate, with support services ending abruptly on their 22nd birthday?  This reality leaves them feeling hopeless and disconnected. But together, we can change that!  We're raising funds to build our first storefront, where we'll offer specialized employment training and opportunities. Your support and donations will turn our community dream into a thriving coffee, bakery & gelato shoppe.

Our café plans to be a welcoming hub near the Orono School District, (Minnesota) providing essential job skills training and fostering meaningful connections. Not only will Hope Filled Café be a local hangout for our youth to go after school and on weekends, but it will also be a place for parents to come during the school day, enjoy a nice cup of coffee or smoothie, and a pastry while working or connecting with others. We believe in inclusivity, shared learning, and exceptional service. " Captain Andrea Ratfield. 

Founder, Captain Andrea Ratfield

Please go to Hope Filled Cafe and DONATE HERE. Note, that when you select an amount, the platform adds a percentage. You can select "other" and add zero or a fixed amount. This platform (unlike Go Fund Me) is a non-profit organization. So, you can add whatever you want and ensure 100% of your donation goes to this incredible business that is about to take flight. 

The circumstance of life brought Andrea into this present life, and nothing is stopping her. Perhaps it's time she is gifted with assistance, as the hard times are left behind. 

From sleeping in a trunk as a child, she understands how children need a safe space. Emancipated as a minor, working to put herself through college, becoming a flight attendant and then a pilot, Captain Andrea Ratfield has navigated adversity and achieved success. Never a victim, she accepts what God gives her and creates change where necessary. Being raped at an aviation event was another trauma that found her down yet a different path. Once again, not a victim, despite being thrown into the HIMS program of which she did not belong. Unwilling to look the other way to the injustice of others being harmed by that program and non FDA approved blood tests that produce false positive results, she is fighting back to help those in need. She's working to create positive change. 

Andrea is a single mother of two, an airline pilot, a volunteer for special needs kids, provides tours to assist parents who travel with children with challenges. If she's not captaining her plane, she is parenting her boys, one of which is autistic. She does mission work in Haiti and is continuing her education for a purpose; to help those in need. She is a woman of faith and her unlimited power shines through. 

Andrea recently earned a Masters in Transformational Leadership Development (MATL) from Bethel Seminary, and is now working on her PhD in Organization, Management & Leadership with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship. She chose Bethel University because it is biblically rooted, like her Seminary degree. She is continuing her education to learn skills beyond flying an airplane, to ensure the success of Hope Filled Cafe to help our children. 

"My PhD will be biblically based, too, and I chose the Entrepreneurship Concentration because of my efforts with Hope Filled Café. I figured as a parent of a child with significant disabilities, and how terrifying it is for me with my strengths, I can only imagine how much more terrifying it is for parents who don't have a college degree or business background or nonprofit background and are sitting around hopeless with their kiddos at home with no face to face connection or meaningful employment.

So my dissertation will be along the lines of: How do we create more employment opportunities for adults with autism and cognitive disabilities to address the alarmingly 85 to 90% unemployment rate within that demographic?" Captain Andrea Ratfield 

Andrea and the team are amazing. You can meet them here. To make Hope Filled Cafe a reality they need donations. If you can help, please do so. As I watch the new generation of pilots who feel entitled, who don't make an effort, or think they can use their religion to show up to work but not do the job, it's nice to know people like Andrea are representing our profession. 

I am so proud to have met and traveled this journey with Andrea, and to have the opportunity to watch her continued success. To see that her convictions never waiver. She is accepting of all, and gives more than takes. We all have people in our lives that there is nothing we wouldn't do for them. Andrea is one of those people. 

Let's All Give Andrea a Helping Hand

Hope Filled Cafe 

Will become reality, and YOU

Can be part of Positive Change!

Please go to Hope Filled Cafe and DONATE HERE. Note, that when you select an amount, the platform adds a percentage. You can select "other" and add zero or a fixed amount. This platform (unlike Go Fund Me) is a non-profit organization. So, you can add whatever you want and ensure 100% of your donation goes to this incredible business that is about to take flight. 

Thank you!

Enjoy the Journey
Dr. Karlene Petitt
PhD. MBA. MHS.
A350, B777, A330, B747-400, B747-200, B767, B757, B737, B727