LIHU‘E — There are a couple of coffee shops serving free coffee drinks for first responders and health-care workers in appreciation with their work on the front line during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ha Coffee Bar Executive Director Jeff Adams said they’ve been giving out free drinks to firefighters, police officers, lifeguards, other emergency personnel and health-care workers.
“We started this recently, and the first tab was paid by Dr. Addison Bulosan from The Specific, who has a revolving invoice,” said Adams. “We hope this helps those serving our community.”
Bulosan said he started this program through his office (The Specific Chiropractic Centers-Kaua‘i) as a way to give back what has been given.
“We started it two weeks ago on a Friday, and at first it was open to the general public, and then we switched it to first responders last Friday,” he said. “There is a dollar amount limit, but every Friday, if I can afford it, I’ll refill it. I’ll keep going for as long as I can.”
Bulosan, who was raised on Kaua‘i and moved back in 2014, says he received a lot of support when he moved back home. He wants to take the opportunity to give back.
“I got a special place in my heart for our first responders out there because many are my friends and family. I know the struggle of taking care of people in difficult times and I just want them to know that we got their back,” Bulosan said.
Bulosan has also partnered with Tasting Kauai — a food-tour company — to sponsor some free delivieries of Verde Restaurant, a free side of poke with purchase at Lihu‘e Fish Express and a free desert with orders at Saimin Dojo. That’ll continue until the tab runs out.
“We’re trying to support as much as we can, and we’ll keep going until we can’t anymore,” said Bulosan.
“Personally, I think now is the time to be a good human being, to help where you can and just be kind. The hardest part right now is to not be able to hug a friend or be there for someone, so any small act of kindness right now will go a long way for all of us.”
On April 1, Starbucks Foundation announced on their website that Starbucks “will give a free, tall, brewed coffee to front-line responders to the COVID-19 outbreak through May 3.”
All you need to do is show proof that you are a first responder, for example: police officer or firefighter, and health-care workers.
Starbucks said, “This commitment was accompanied by a $500,000 donation from The Starbucks Foundation to support U.S. front-line responders with equal donations to Direct Relief to support the delivery of personal protective equipment and essential medical items, and to Operation Gratitude to deliver 50,000 care packages and handwritten letters to first responders and health-care workers.”
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Stephanie Shinno, features and community reporter, can be reached at 245-0424 or sshinno@thegardenisland.com.
