FREEDOM’S FOUND COFFEE

Ray Herr

At the intersection of service and compassion lies our founder, a combat veteran driven by a dual mission: to provide unwavering mental health support to fellow veterans and first responders, and to craft a haven where camaraderie brews alongside exceptional coffee, all underpinned by a faith-based approach to trauma healing.

With a heart forged in service, our founder understands the invisible scars that weigh heavily on those who have sacrificed for others. Through our community-centric approach, we offer not just a cup of coffee but a refuge where stories are shared, burdens are lightened, and bonds are strengthened, guided by the principles of faith, hope, and love.

Ray is a retired Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt), having spent over 20 years serving in the U.S. Air Force. While in the Air Force, Ray served as a Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) member and a Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) on several deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan, providing direct support to U.S. Army and coalition partner combat units. Retiring in early 2017, Ray quickly transitioned into contract work for the Air Force, supporting various TACP training programs.

As Ray transitioned from military service, he faced not only his own mental health challenges, but he also lost several close friends, fellow service members, and veterans, to suicide. In his darkest moment, Ray found saving faith in Jesus Christ, and felt a calling upon his life to help others who were struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI). Foundational to his desire to help others is 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, which reads: 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

Ray's desire is to share the comfort that he has found in Christ with others.

Ray holds an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) postgraduate degree in Community Care and Counseling, with a cognate in Trauma, from Liberty University. He is also pursuing an Educational Doctorate degree (Ed.D.) in the same program at Liberty University.