By Marisa Dawson

Photo Courtesy of Cup & Cone

In a sweet gesture of community support, Cup & Cone, the beloved family-run coffee and ice cream shop in Bennington, has teamed up with Project Harmony, a leading child advocacy center based in Omaha, to help protect and heal children affected by abuse and neglect.

For the entire month of January, the shop is featuring a special limited-time drink: the Project Harmony Latte. This eye-catching beverage is a classic vanilla latte topped with raspberry cold foam and purple sprinkles, designed to reflect Project Harmony’s signature colors of purple, pink, and yellow.

For every Project Harmony Latte sold, Cup & Cone will donate $1 directly to Project Harmony. The funds will support the organization’s vital work in healing, advocacy, and prevention for children and families throughout eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa.

Project Harmony is a child advocacy center dedicated to boldly ending the cycle of child abuse and neglect. As one of the largest such centers in the country, it provides a collaborative, child-friendly environment where multidisciplinary teams (including law enforcement, medical professionals, social services, and advocates) work together to conduct forensic interviews, medical exams, mental health support, and family advocacy. The organization serves thousands of children each year, offering immediate response, treatment, and prevention programs while raising awareness about child protection.

The partnership came about through a personal connection. Shop owner Amber Tkaczuk explained that a friend who works at Project Harmony mentioned Cup & Cone, leading to an outreach from the organization.

“They must have been talking about doing something like this. And she mentioned our name, and then they reached out and asked if we’d like to participate. Obviously we said absolutely, so we did it,” Tkaczuk said in an interview.

The new latte was specially created for the initiative. Working off the logo colors, they developed the elements and look of this new drink. “I think it tastes really good and it looks pretty, so I think it works well for what we’re trying to achieve,” Tkaczuk noted.

Tkaczuk emphasized that giving back to the community is a priority for the business, especially heading into 2026. “Going into 2026, this is something I would like to do a little more often- just find these little ways to give back. And partnering with them is the first one of the year… We partner with the schools a lot to do Give Back nights, which usually turn out pretty well.”

Beyond the delicious drink, Tkaczuk hopes customers walk away with greater awareness. She highlighted the importance of community-based fundraising for nonprofits like Project Harmony.

“For them, I think it just brings awareness to who they are and what they do. I feel like there’s a lot of groups like this that people don’t even know exist. So anytime you can bring awareness to those groups… they know that they have a place to reach out to,” she said.

When asked what she hopes customers take away beyond enjoying a good latte, Tkaczuk replied: “I think the awareness piece, just bringing more awareness to who Project Harmony is, what they do, and the resource that they are to our community, I think that’s hopefully the biggest takeaway.”

Cup & Cone, located at 15420 S 2nd St in Bennington, has quickly become a community favorite since opening in 2023, offering a welcoming spot for coffee, ice cream, and connection. This January partnership offers locals a tasty way to make a meaningful difference.

Stop by Cup & Cone this month to try the Project Harmony Latte- your purchase will help fund critical support for children who need it most.