It was an early Saturday morning when Barbara Danner rolled up to the Dutch Bros drive-thru in Vancouver, Washington. She was there for her morning coffee. What she got was so much more.
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Danner witnessed a group of store employees leaning out of the drive-thru window, seemingly to grapple in some way with the customer ahead of her in line. She didn't quite know what it was at first, but what she was witnessing was a poignant display of human compassion and prayer.
The Emotional Encounter Between a Grieving Woman and a Drive Thru
Danner caught the moment on camera and posted it on Facebook.
"Turns out the young lady in line ahead of us lost her 37-year-old husband last night," Danner wrote in the now-viral Facebook post.
"When the DB guys & gals noticed she was falling apart, they stopped everything and prayed with her for several minutes, invited her to come back for prayer and support, as well as anything else that she might need."
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In an interview with The Oregonian, one of the employees, Pierce Dunn, 19, explained that the woman, who was a regular customer, was "visibly upset" when she drove to the window. After learning that she’d been widowed just the night before, Dunn offered her a free coffee and prayer.
Two of his fellow co-workers immediately stopped what they were doing and joined in. That’s when Danner snapped the photo.
The three employees spent the next several minutes praying with her, despite not all of them being religious. Evan Freeman, the 21-year-old in the back of the prayer group, told The Oregonian that at that moment, religious beliefs didn't matter:
"She could have said she wanted an apple, and I would have gone and planted a tree and grown her an apple. It just happened to be religion that she wanted."
Evan Freeman
And so that's exactly what he gave her.
Dutch Bros. Is in the Business of Supporting Its Customers
Dutch Bros. has been in the business of coffee since 1992. But coffee is only part of the company's story. The power of community and building relationships has long been baked into the brand's DNA, so much so, that workers have made it their mission to make a difference... one delicious cup of coffee at a time.
The company has several charitable initiatives, including a yearly event in honor of co-founder Dane Boersma. DRINK ONE FOR DANE DAY raises funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association to find a cause and cure for ALS.
Additionally, Dutch Bros. hosts a DUTCH LOVE DAY, which takes place every Valentine's Day. The company donates $1.00 from every drink sold to help feed families and fight hunger in local communities.
Every September, workers also raise money for nonprofit organizations helping create brighter futures for kids.
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However, it's not just its corporate giving that makes a difference. Their employees do too. And what happened at the Dutch Bros. in Vancouver is just one example.
Jessica Chudek, who owns the franchise located at 2610 N.E. 138th Ave., said acts of kindness are not uncommon.
"Of course I was proud of them and of our company and our culture, but I really was not surprised. We do these kinds of things every day, and rarely is it caught on camera."
Jessica Chudek
Commenters on Barbara Danner's Facebook post agree. A number of them came forward to share their own heartwarming Dutch Bros. stories.
Dutch Bros. Makes a Difference, One Random Act of Kindness at a Time
From changing customers' flat tires, to taking the time to ask about sick family members, to making a special drink for a boy with autism, it's obvious that Dutch Bros. is special.
One employee, Alysia Brewer, wrote, "I'm so blessed to work for Dutch Bros. We have the freedom to care and love on our customers which makes my job amazing. I've prayed with customers, hugged customers, celebrated pregnancies and held hands while people are heading to a funeral. I wish more businesses encouraged their employees the way Dutch does!"
Just imagine what a difference it would make.
Of course, you don't have to work at Dutch Bros. to make a difference in the world. Taking the time to watch out for one another, and offering compassion and comfort when it is needed, goes a long way in making this world a kinder, gentler place.
