Tbh the easiest way to express gratitude is a tip.

Doughnuts are cool and cheap.
People get stupidly excited for doughnuts for some reason.

A $100 tip

At my store, you volunteer to work holidays! I always work Thanksgiving/Christmas so I can have New Years off. Everyone has to sign up for at least one holiday, and on Christmas Eve/Day tips are shared between only the partners working that day, not the whole staff.

At my store I signed up to work today and we get paid 1.5 times and everyone that works that day shares the tips instead of the whole staff. As long as youre not getting a huge order like 7 items we don’t mind.
Tips are a wonderful sign of gratitude. I’m a barista so I’m not exactly sure but I think we can accept something like desserts, especially if they’re store bought.

For me when someone lets me know that they’re very grateful for what I’m doing it actually makes my day a lot better.

There was one customer who always brought us brownies he had made, and a separate vegan tray for our vegan coworkers. (You don’t need to do anything crazy, your post just made me think of him.)

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Tips with the name on ✉. Its the easiest way personally I know we aren't allowed to receive physical items.

I'm not working Thanksgiving this year but the best way is with a tip tbh. If you pay with the app, that's the easiest way to do it. And as long as you don't order a bunch of complicated drinks and food items we appreciate your gratitude and kindness more than anything. But if you feel like adding in baked goods, my store won't say no :)

you cant be sorry we are working if you are participating in why we are working lol. Capitalist america on its capitalist holiday

Clearly you don't feel terrible that the baristas have to work or you wouldn't be going. We're only open because people like you still have to have their starbucks on a holiday that people should be spending with their families.