Pictured are: (L to R) Starbucks Barista Taylor Chrencik, Starbuck Manager Sheena Murray, Humane Society of North Iowa Executive Director Sybil Soukup, and Hy-Vee West Store Director Mike Winblade.
MASON CITY – The employees of Starbucks Coffee, located inside the Mason City Hy-Vee West grocery store, have made a sizeable donation, the result of “tip money”, to the Humane Society of North Iowa last week.
Starbucks opened a coffee shop within the Hy-Vee West grocery store last spring. Adhering to Hy-Vee policy, the coffee shop employees, or “baristas” as they’re known, are not allowed to collect tips for their services. However, many customers are accustomed to tipping-a standard protocol in a coffee house. With their employer’s permission, the baristas decided to set out a tip jar with the intent to donate collected tips to non-profit organizations in the North Iowa area on a quarterly basis.
Their first donation is being made to the Humane Society of North Iowa in the amount of $3060.50.
“What an incredible donation!” said Sybil Soukup, Executive Director of the Humane Society of North Iowa, “We are completely grateful for this wonderful contribution. It will allow us to help a lot of animals.”
Sheena Murray, Manager of Starbucks Coffee stated, “We are glad to be helping such a worth organization like the Humane Society of North Iowa one cup of coffee at a time. We are also grateful to our customers who have been so generous with tips that have allowed for this donation.”
Starbucks Coffee will continue to collect tips in their Mason City Hy-Vee West location and the money will be donated to area non-profit organizations. The next organization to receive the disbursement is the Salvation Army for their holiday meals program.
This is a very nice thing for them to do.
Great idea & great job!