People can purchase “Joe to Go” from Boston Stoker or desserts from Lily’s Bistro and they will be delivered to nurses, doctors, emergency workers and others on the front lines fighting coronavirus. The program is also donating a second Joe to Go for every one purchased.
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“Coffee, it helps people feel normal,” said Michael Brown, senior vice president at Boston Stoker Coffee. “It’s like being wrapped in a warm blanket. That’s what we want to do for these folks — just feel a moment of normal.”
Wrapping-up its third week, the program has delivered about 320 boxes of coffee to local health care workers. Friday, the program made its first coffee paired with pastries delivery to Dayton Children’s Hospital.
To minimize contact and follow social-distancing, the Boston Stoker coffee and Lily’s pastries will get dropped off on a cart outside a hospital, where staff will then bring it inside.
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“But then we’ll see them share pictures of people enjoying the coffee in the hospital, waving, and so we’re kind of able to see that spread and see what’s happening behind the wall,” said Elizabeth Cooper, founder of the Dayton Real Estate Crush team.
The mission of the program is to bring a “treat yourself” moment to health care workers - some of whom are working around the clock - to manage the influx of patients.
“The idea of being able to partner with two other companies you love and also just — coffee and a breakfast pastry or coffee and a dessert, it really is just such a nice moment,” said Emily Mendenhall, co-owner of Lily’s Bistro. “Thinking of these folks who are going into work everyday, working long hours, working in a really intense situation — taking a break for a little scone or lemon bundt cake, its heaven.”
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Delivering two rounds of donations a day, the program is trying to hit both day and night shift frontline health care workers.
“With Boston Stoker, it’s like that warm feeling you get from coffee but now you add something from Lily’s and it’s not just that moment of normal, now it’s that moment of normal and special,” Brown said.
A webpage has been set-up at https://www.daytonrealestatecrush.com/shop so people can purchase a Joe to Go to donate or buy a round of Lily's pastries for Dayton's health care workers.
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