Island coffee drinkers now have a chance to brew a good pot of coffee and support activities at the high school with the newly created Pirate Blend from the Vashon Island Coffee Roasterie.

“It’s delicious,” said Mary Kay Rauma, the Roasterie’s sales and marketing director. “Each sip promises to put a little more ‘aaaarrrgh’ in your step.”

Early last month, Susan Bakker, the high school’s office manager, sold her first bags of coffee for this project, which is a fundraiser for the school’s Associated Student Body. As of last week, coffee sales had brought in almost $700 for the ASB, which supports athletics and clubs at the school.

“If we made a profit of $800 to $1,000 a month, I would be ecstatic,” Bakker said. “I truly do believe it’s doable.”

Bakker first became interested in a coffee fundraiser last year after Tom Dargel, the school district’s business manager, told her several Washington schools had benefitted from such sales. Bakker looked into the idea but knew she wanted to use coffee from a local company. The result is a partnership with the Roasterie, owned by Islander Eva DeLoach.

“Eva agreed to help us out,” Bakker said. “She is being very generous.”

The coffee, like all Roasterie blends, is a combination of organic fair trade and direct trade beans. Pirate Blend is an Italian roast similar to Midnight, a popular Roasterie blend, but “with a little bit of special Pirate magic,” according to Rauma.

Since Bakker began to pursue this idea, the financial situation with the Vashon Island School District has only grown worse — which makes this project even more important.

“Our goal is to to help everybody in the co-curricular program who needs help this year,” Bakker said.

Bakker plans for the coffee sales to be an ongoing fundraiser.

“Hopefully, we will have everybody hooked on it,” she said.

Pirate Blend is available for purchase only through the school and at school functions for $10 per one-pound bag of whole or ground beans and $12 for decaf. To place an order, call Susan Bakker at 463-91971, ext. 111, or e-mail her at sbakker@vashonsd.org. During July, when Bakker is out of the office, she will still accept orders via e-mail.