Patrons of a downtown coffee shop will be able to support the Suffolk News-Herald Cheer Fund when they purchase their lattes and cappuccinos through December.

Rosa’s Coffee Cantina is selling coffee sleeves for $1 each for customers to decorate and hang up on the wall. The proceeds will go toward the Cheer Fund, which benefits Toys for Tots in Suffolk.

Drake Simms, who owns the shop with his wife, LoriLynn, got the idea when he was ordering the sleeves.

“It just kind of came to me,” he said.

Rather than ordering the sleeves with the coffee shop’s logo, Simms ordered them blank.

“I figured we can let people draw anything on them that they want,” Simms said.

The decorated sleeves will be hung on the wall throughout the holiday season, then taken down and used to keep customer’s hands safe when holding their hot beverages.

Simms asked around for ideas of a local charity to benefit from the money. He was immediately told to give to the Cheer Fund.

As a retired Marine, Simms said it was the perfect marriage. The U.S. Marine Corps sponsors the Toys for Tots program.

“I’ll give all the patrons Sharpie markers and let them draw,” he said.

For more information on the fundraiser, call 923-9928 or visit the coffee shop at 149 N. Main St.

The Suffolk News-Herald Cheer Fund collects donations throughout the year to help buy toys for Toys for Tots.

To donate directly to the Cheer Fund, send checks made payable to Cheer Fund to P.O. Box 1220, Suffolk, VA 23439 or bring them to 130 S. Saratoga St.