Starbucks employees to serve up community service

Some people can't live without their daily coffee, and Starbucks employees are only too happy to serve it to them.

Now Starbucks baristas are asking customers to join them in a service project that will “create positive change” in their local community.

As part of the company's second annual Global Month of Service, the Starbucks located in the Target at Yuma Palms mall has set aside Thursday as “Day of Service” for the community. Employees have chosen to help Amberly's Place Thrift Shoppe, 812 S. Avenue A, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“This is the great part. They are going to give us a complete face lift on the outside of our thrift store,” Diane Umphress, Amberly's Place executive director, said.

Starbucks employees invite customers to join them in beautifying the landscaping around the store. Valley Sand and Gravel has agreed to donate gravel for the planters and retention areas. Lowe's will donate plants and shrubs. Starbucks will provide the time and labor.

The baristas even plan to hold a bake sale at the thrift store while they are cleaning to raise funds for the victims served by Amberly's Place.

A couple of days later, Amberly's Place Thrift Shoppe will debut its new look with its first-ever sidewalk sale on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“We will have reduced prices on all items in the parking lot which don't meet the high quality for the store,” Umphress said.

The store will also be opened for those who want to see the merchandise that does meet store standards.

“This will be days after our face lift, so we are excited for all to see our new look,” Umphress said.

She invites the community to join the Starbucks employees in their day of community service and/or check out the sidewalk sale.

“This community is great to us and the victims we serve. However, we are really struggling to keep up with the emergency needs of the victims we serve. Our hope is that the sidewalk sale will assist us in this goal,” Umphress added.

For more information on joining the Amberly's Place community service project, call Marie at 343-7470.

In another community service project, the Starbucks at 4th Avenue and Catalina Drive will participate in the Yuma Relay for Life Saturday and Sunday at Desert Sun Stadium. Employees and customers will walk 24 hours straight to raise money for cancer research.

Mara Knaub can be reached at mknaub@yumasun.com or 539-6856.