The new year brings an opportunity for people to renew their outlook on life. Whether it be professional goals or health goals, Richmond Hill residents are no doubt making resolutions for change.
Naomi Havens has new ideas and plans in mind for her café, but her resolution and ultimate mission have not waivered: to educate and advocate on the sole purpose of bettering lives of those wanting to simply feel better or those battling diseases prohibiting them from living fully. Victory Haven Café’s goal is to help others regain their health using God’s pharmacy.
Since Havens launched the café in July, it has steadily gained ground.
“Initially it was a lot curiosity seekers coming through the doors to the café,” she said.
Being located inside the Georgia Game Changers complex naturally attracts those seeking active lifestyles. The café initially started with smoothies. It has since expanded its offerings to wraps and other organic countertop products.
“We are always adding new smoothie mixtures and options where people can make their own recipe from four ingredients for a set fee,” Havens said. “They can add any other ingredients for an additional fee, and this has gone over really well.”
Besides adding new flavors and working to improve the menu and visibility of the café, Havens has kept her focus on the real reason she started the business in the first place. Her personal experience with breast cancer was the driving force behind making a radical lifestyle change. Had it not been for making changes and pouring herself into years of nutritional research, Havens may not be here to advocate for others seeking a healthy lifestyle. After being told her options, she took matters into her own hands and chose to live.
“This is about helping people feel better,” Havens said.
Whether it be weight loss, coping with a migraine or sinus infections, or battling cancer Havens has seen it all. She also has seen firsthand the impact nutrition can have on one’s ability to live.
“We are here to assist in these situations,” she said. “We aren’t just here to pacify taste buds.”
This goes beyond a simple smoothie or wrap. Havens leads a wellness group that meets from 7-9 p.m. every Thursday inside Victory Haven Café. The group is currently reading through two books: “Daniel Plan” by Rick Warren, Dr. Daniel Amen and Dr. Mark Hyman; and “Every Body Matters” by Gary Thomas, which talks about the emotions that are involved in food choices. Havens has been facilitating these two books for the past two years. The group also incorporates educational movies and gets opportunity to gain hands-on experience while learning new recipes.
Havens is in the planning phases of launching a 30-day challenge and has even more initiatives to reveal this year. The café is one source for area residents to get their daily dose of nutritional intake.
If you are interested in learning more, stop by the café at 8872 Ford Ave., Suite 207, inside the Georgia Game Changers complex, and Havens will share her story with you and make you a smoothie.
Havens is an ambassador for the Richmond Hill/Bryan County Chamber of Commerce and serves in several capacities in the city, but what she is proudest of is the café.
“I give this to God and know that he will make it happen,” she said.
Now is a great time to kick off new resolutions and habits, but ultimately, this is lifestyle change. Some say that Havens’ way of life and eating habits take too much work. Havens disagrees, saying making these changes is a matter of life or death.
Havens is also an inspirational speaker. For more information on Havens and the café, go to www.facebook.com/VictoryHaven or email her at Naomi.VictoryHavenCafe@gmail.com.