Cups of Hope Project
Over 1,000 people died by suicide in Tennessee in 2023, and at least 130 of those suicide deaths were in the Northeast region.
Recognizing that even one suicide is one too many, TSPN’s Northeast Region launched an inaugural Cups of Hope Campaign during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in September 2025.
The region partnered with local coffee shops and community partners to provide their customers with free suicide prevention resources. Here's how the campaign worked:
- First, the region recruited local youth volunteers to hand-draw messages of hope on coffee cup sleeves.
- Each coffee sleeve included a QR code with a link to local mental health resources in Northeast Tennessee.
- On September 10 -- World Suicide Prevention Day -- coffee sleeves were distributed across the Northeast Region.
- Throughout the month of September, participating businesses distributed suicide prevention resources.
We were thrilled with the participation -- see the results in the photos below.
Interested in hosting your own community Cups of Hope project?
TSPN is accepting offers to participate in the Northeast Region's 2026 Cups of Hope Campaign.
Contact Northeast Regional Director Cori Johnson Regional Director at cjohnson@tspn.org for guidance and TSPN materials.
Let’s work together to raise awareness, decrease stigma, share resources, and spread hope!
During the 2025 Cups of Hope Campaign:
- 21 community partners and 60 volunteers representing five counties in Northeast, TN participated in the campaign
- Approximately 200 middle & high school-aged youth participated in Cups of Hope by decorating coffee sleeves and raising awareness of suicide prevention resources
- Over 950 coffee shop patrons received a custom coffee sleeve including a message of hope and link to digital suicide prevention resources during the campaign
- Over 550 people visited our Cups of Hope website which highlighted information about the campaign, sponsors, and suicide prevention information
- Cups of Hope Campaign posts received over 1,400 combined likes, shares, and impressions through TSPN social media outlets
- More than $3,200 was raised to support TSPN's ongoing suicide prevention efforts
- Over 1,200 individual suicide prevention resources, including TSPN Northeast Regional resource guides, 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline magnets, 988 pens, and 988 stickers were distributed at local participating coffee shops
- Thousands of viewers learned about TSPN and suicide prevention resources during media coverage of the campaign by WCYB, WJHL, and Six Rivers Media
We appreciate the following coffee shops, community partners, and sponsors who took part in our 2025 event.
Participating Coffee Shops
Appalachian Coffee Cupboard, Hampton
Catalyst Coffee Company, Greeneville
Corner Company Beverage Emporium, Jonesborough
Dos Gatos Coffee Bar, Johnson City
Steel Rails Coffee House, Erwin
Urban Brews & Creamery, Kingsport
Participating Community Partners
Christ Fellowship Church, Kingsport
Milligan University Counseling Center, Milligan
Sponsors
Photos from coffee shops and other places across the Northeast Region
"Cups of Hope" campaign
custom coffee sleeve
"Cups of Hope" campaign
custom coffee sleeve
TSPN extends its thanks to the fine arts students at West Ridge High School in Blountville, who competed in a design contest for the coffee sleeves used in this campaign. Pictured above, from left to right, are first-prize winner Lilli Watts, second-prize winner Paisley West, and third-prize winner Haley Pendleton. All their designs were displayed in the coffee shops supporting this project.
