For as long as she can remember, Fiona Reed, has had a mission to give back. A passion instilled in her by her grandmother, a pastry chef, who despite having little to spare, would often bake cakes and bread to bring to families in need during the Second World War.

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“We were very close and giving back to the community was something she had always done,” says Fiona.

All year long, Starbucks partners like Fiona, create inspiring moments, uplifting their communities and sparking joy in big and small ways. But, for the past several weeks, her district has been participating in Season of Cheer, a special time of year when partners across the country join forces to make spirits even brighter during the holidays.

“It is so needed in our communities. With the challenges of homelessness, hunger, poverty and loneliness, it is so important we spread hope and cheer wherever we can.” says Fiona.

Over the years, Fiona has connected with many local charities, including seniors’ organizations like the Coleman Care Centre and Senior’s Wish Association, to help uplift the city’s most vulnerable citizens, which through the pandemic has been needed more than ever.

Armed with coffee, hot chocolate, dozens of homemade gingerbread cookies, and a small team of partners, Fiona spent one afternoon this month at the Coleman Care Centre, decorating cookies with seniors.

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A relationship that began in 2019 when Fiona and a few Starbucks partners visited the centre to enjoy coffee and sing Christmas carols with the residents, the residents at the Coleman Care Centre now look forward to visits from their local friends at Starbucks. “This past summer, when the residents heard that Starbucks partners were coming in to spend more time with them, they were so excited to find out what activities we would be doing,” says Karen Andrews, Director of Recreation, Coleman Care Centre. &nbsp;“The smiles I see on both the partners and residents faces often brings me to tears. Community partners coming in and spending time with the residents in a meaningful way is truly valuable, and the residents reminisce for days after the fun they had interacting with such lovely people.”

Karen describes the impact as valuable and everlasting, and one that it goes both ways. “The residents are able to pass on valuable wisdom through conversation with the partners,” she says. “We are always grateful for any type of donation that is provided to the residents, but the donation of one’s time, you just can’t put a value on that.”

For the Senior’s Wish Association, the team helped put together over a thousand bags over the past few years for the adopt a senior program for the holidays, this year, donating 150 packages of cookies to include in the care packages. This year, store managers met with senior volunteers and helped wrap gifts and to celebrate the seniors who volunteer with the organization.

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A teacher and coach at heart, with two children in their 20s, Fiona describes what it means to work with partners around the same age as her children and why she works to instill a passion for community with each one she connects with.

“What better way to continue that inspiration than through this next set of leaders. When I'm a senior citizen years from now, they're going to be the leaders in my place. I want them to have that foundation to keep going, to support the community and non-profit groups locally and globally,” says Fiona.

To encourage the partners in her store, the team hosts daily coffee tasting meetings where partners have the opportunity to introduce a community group, who they serve and how the team can help now or in the future.

“On several occasions the partners have asked me about what's happening with Senior Wish and how our Christmas campaign has been going. This interest and enthusiasm is due to Fiona and her leadership. We can't thank her enough, not only for her ongoing support but for inspiring a new generation of volunteers and community minded individuals," says Suzanne.

Working with her team and district, Fiona plans many more ways to give back through Season of Cheer and year-round, continuing to live up to her mission of giving back at Starbucks.

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“I had always joked with friends that I just wanted to be a barista at Starbucks, they look like they have so much fun, and they get to talk to people,” Fiona recalls. But, it was the company’s&nbsp; mission, To inspire and nurture the human spirit - one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time, that most attracted her to the company “After researching more about the company’s community and global initiatives like C.A.F.E. practices, work with women in coffee and tea growing regions around the world, and more, I knew that this is where I wanted to be.”

“I want to make sure that somebody's day is better. Somebody's life is better. I want to make sure that I have my eyes and ears open so I can see and hear what's going on in my community and around the world. And I want to inspire others around me to be that change as well.”

Behind the Green Apron: Starbucks Partner Fiona shares her lifelong mission to make the world a better place - Starbucks Canada

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Starbucks Canada

Behind the Green Apron: Starbucks Partner Fiona shares her lifelong mission to make the world a better place

https://stories.starbucks.ca/en-ca/stories/2021/behind-the-green-apron-starbucks-partner-fiona-shares-her-lifelong-mission-to-make-the-world-a-better-place/

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Langley, B.C. Starbucks store manager, Sonja Olsen started out with a small idea to spread holiday cheer to seniors – one that has quickly snowballed into a community-wide initiative.&nbsp;

In less than two weeks, Olsen and her team at the 200th St. Starbucks have collected hundreds of greeting cards filled with messages of care for the community’s seniors who may be spending the holidays alone this year due to the pandemic.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“I didn’t think this was going to gain this much traction,” says Olsen, who came up with the idea, thinking about her own grandmother who lives in an assisted-living home in Burnaby and will be one of many seniors who may not be able to celebrate the holidays with her loved ones this year.&nbsp;Olsen and her team were discussing the store’s plans for Starbucks annual Season of Cheer, which empowers partners (employees) to find ways to connect with their community, spread kindness, and give back wherever and whenever possible.

And while community service is challenged by the pandemic this year, partners have found creative ways to give back.&nbsp;

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Olsen initially set out 60 blank cards on a table in the store. Next to them, she put up a small sign welcoming partners and customers alike to write a card to a senior in a care home. To her surprise, the simple ask really resonated with the community, and the store had to consistently restock the cards.

In the first week word spread quickly about the store’s initiative, and soon the phone started ringing with calls from multiple elementary school teachers looking to get their classes involved.

Many of the cards include drawings from children who have visited the store, but what’s even more heartwarming, Olsen says, are the messages people have been leaving.&nbsp;

“I’ve read through so many of them and some will actually bring you to tears,” says Olsen. “There’s a tremendous amount of ‘You are not alone.’ And there are so many people who have left their phone numbers for seniors so they have someone to talk to. ‘If you’re lonely call me. I want to hear about your life,’ some say.”

Uplifting the community

In addition to the holiday cards, Olsen’s store will also begin collecting gifts for seniors to continue spreading holiday cheer. The store will set up a drop-off box for anyone who wants to give something small, like a box of chocolates or slippers, fully respecting social distancing and store safety protocols. The store will then arrange for the gifts and cards to be delivered to senior care homes.

“[The initiative] just keeps growing and my store partners have become very invested in what’s happening,” Olsen says. “They are feeling a tremendous amount of responsibility. Now that we have the community’s attention, what can we do?”

That’s why, on top of sending cards and gifts to seniors, Olsen and her store partners have also started collecting items for their local food bank.

“I’m at the point where I’m collecting so much holiday joy that I’m just trying to figure out how to spread it,” Olsen laughs.

Langley, B.C. Starbucks store manager, Sonja Olsen started out with a small idea to spread holiday cheer to seniors – one that has quickly snowballed into a community-wide initiative.

Behind the Green Apron: Starbucks Partners in B.C. Remind Seniors ‘You are Not Alone’ with Hundreds of Holiday Cards

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https://stories.starbucks.ca/en-ca/stories/2020/behind-the-green-apron-starbucks-partners-remind-seniors-you-are-not-alone-with-holiday-cards/

season of cheer

Behind the Green Apron: Starbucks Partner Fiona shares her lifelong mission to make the world a better place

Behind the Green Apron: Starbucks Partners in B.C. Remind Seniors ‘You are Not Alone’ with Hundreds of Holiday Cards