Every year, baristas at the University Bookstore’s The Duck Stop Espresso Bar donate a year’s worth of tips to a local charity.
Thursday morning, The Duck Stop baristas presented ShelterCare, an agency that provides housing and support, with their largest check to date: $11,901.38.
“That’s a lot of quarters and fifty-centers,” bookstore General Manager Jim Williams said.
ShelterCare is a private, nonprofit human services agency that provides housing and support for families that are homeless or at risk of homelessness and for adults disabled by mental illness or brain injury.
“We’re really excited to donate,” Williams said while presenting an oversized check to ShelterCare representatives. “This year’s donation represents a lot of hard work, great people, compassion and inspiration.”
Since 1996, the bookstore coffee shop workers have donated more than $60,000 in tips to local organizations. Each year they choose a different organization. Customers donate their tips in a frog jar on the counter.
“As a nonprofit, service-oriented business, we thought, ‘Why should one area of the store get tips over the others?’” Williams said. “So we brainstormed and the baristas chose the groups to benefit. It’s from their hearts to work to do great things.”
Erin Thomason, lead barista and University alumna, said she welcomes the opportunity to work with charities and give back to the community.
“This is just a little way for me to help,” Thomason said. “If you can, why not help someone?”
The money will go directly to ShelterCare services that house the homeless. ShelterCare helps about 1,500 people a year, said Susan Ban, executive director of ShelterCare.
“At any given time we have 100 adults with psychiatric disorders in specialty programs, and right now we have 24 units housing families,” she said. “This is a great help, and we’re very thankful on behalf of our residents and on behalf of ShelterCare.”
ShelterCare Development Director Evelyn Andertonsaid she was thankful for the support of all the nonprofit organizations in Eugene that are constantly working together to benefit the community.
“Eugene needs organizations like the UO Bookstore,” Anderton said. “It’s so moving to see compassionate and generous people helping to make the community a warm and welcoming place for everybody.”
The 2005-06 tips will benefit the Child Advocacy Center of Lane County, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping lessen the trauma experienced by abused children going through the judicial process system. The coffee shop’s goal is to raise $10,000.
“We’re all a part of a greater community,” Williams said. “We can make a difference.”
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