Thank you to every one of you who has sacrificed the past nine months of this pandemic. You don't get enough recognition for what you do. People say "they're just making coffee" but they don't see you cleaning out drains, making drinks with a label as long as your hand, or taking the phone call complaint or counter complaint from a customer.

I encourage all the customers who read these posts at minimum to thank your local store partners who go in daily during this pandemic to work, so you can get your drinks. Please give what you can to their tips. They deserve it!

I'm no fancy Nancy, I just get coffee and buy drinks for others on occasion. But having run bars and restaurants in the past, those positive appreciations in tip form make all the difference - especially now.

I watched today as stores had lines around the buildings and more people inside waiting for drinks. One woman told her daughter she was amazed at how many people were working and how many drinks they were putting out.

I share what I did as an example; three gifts for my local baristas. In addition to taking some personalized gifts to several local Starbucks stores for partners to use on their own time, I took some of my own Reserve coffee and gave additional Christmas tips to local stores.

In this season we can make a positive difference for all those who get us through our days, our own grind.