Hi friends! Amie here. 👋
One of my favorite things about working at In the Loop is the community. The connections we make as baristas mean more than brewing coffee for our guests. By serving food and drink, we provide support to our neighborhood and to the people who run its businesses. We serve happy families and bright individuals and maybe most important of all? The dogs, of course. We contribute to a sense of community. And from that sense of community comes a deep devotion and commitment to public health and safety.
Social responsibility is a big responsibility. Not being able to come to work and feel this community for the time being is going to break my heart, but it’s for a better cause. We must do what we can to protect each other. As we closed on Tuesday, there was an overwhelming amount of support from the neighborhood. People bought remaining food items and coffee, as well as gift cards. Thank you thank you thank you from the bottom of all of our hearts! ❤️
Being there for our guests has always been an important part of what we do. We want everyone to feel at home. For example, one time a lady came in with her friends while I was working. Her friends left, but she stayed until closing time, and I was able to chat with her about the shop and random life things. She told me that she was having a rough couple of days, and she thanked me. She called my service to her a kind of ministry. I had no idea that bringing her coffee and extra silverware would be such a comfort to her in a time of emotional need. She said it meant a lot to her, and her saying that meant a lot to me! An act of service might seem small, but that doesn’t mean it’s not meaningful. We are all being called to sacrifice daily routines, from getting our favorite specially crafted coffee beverages to our gym sessions and religious gatherings. But we are in this together, and we must stay vigilantly kind, even in isolation.
For right now, my classes at the U of M are online. Not going to work and social distancing means I will be spending all of my time at home. I’m planning on catching up with my studies and getting some books knocked off my reading list. I have a little anxiety about quarantine and COVID-19, but I am practicing self-care, and the introvert in me is almost thrilled to have all this extra me-time. Taking walks outside, staying hydrated, etc. What are you doing to pass the time and manage anxieties? Share with us! Keep the sense of community alive. Have you started brewing coffee at home? What’s that like for you? How are you entertaining yourself and your kids? Is the dog just loving you being home all day every day? 🐾
It would mean the world if you continued to support us through buying an e-gift card. Keep following our social media so you know when we’ll open again! I am eagerly waiting to be back behind the bar again. ☕