Dutch Bros Coffee Donates All April Profits to #FirstRespondersFirst

Dutch Bros Coffee will be donating all its April profits to #FirstRespondersFirst. The nonprofit provides essential supplies and equipment to protect frontline healthcare workers and their patients. The company, which operates in seven western states, will dedicate 100 percent of profits to medical first responders through #FirstRespondersFirst.

“Givebacks are part of our DNA,” said Travis Boersma , CEO of Dutch Bros. “We’re thankful to be able to support and serve our communities right now.”

Donations to #FirstRespondersFirst provide critical supplies, equipment, and resources to frontline healthcare workers.

“#FirstRespondersFirst is a really amazing initiative making a huge difference right now. We’re honored to help support this fund,” said Boersma. “We started this business not just to sell coffee, but to impact our customers and communities in positive ways. We hope we can do that this April and be a light in these dark and difficult times.’

The coffee franchise organizes multiple giveback programs each year, from companywide efforts to hyperlocal programs to help those in need. Its philanthropic arm, the Dutch Bros Foundation, earlier this week dedicated an additional $1 million to help those impacted by the pandemic.

Covid-19’s Effect On Frontline Workers

COVID-19 has greatly affected our economy. Many small businesses are forced to close their shutters during this time to prevent further spread of the virus. The fight against the coronavirus continues to wage on as we try to create a vaccine. Unfortunately, that will take 18 months’ time and cost billions of dollars.

In the meantime, the only defense we have against this virus are our frontline workers who are working day and night despite the health risks and taxing workload they all have to endure. Some workers are working unpaid overtime out of moral duty.

Lack Of Essential Supplies

And with the slow response from the U.S government, supplies have been limited given that hospitals don’t overstock inventory and only order as much as they need. The coronavirus pandemic, unfortunately, caused a large spike in needed supplies such as N95 masks and respirators.

Right now even if you have the money, you can’t afford to buy N95 masks in bulk because they’re out of stock everywhere. Doctors and nurses have taken it upon themselves to procure essential supplies but to no avail.

Even at the State level, getting those supplies, particularly N95 masks, has proven to be an impossible challenge. On March 25, the city of Philadelphia ordered 500,000 N95 masks for its frontline workers. The masks normally cost around $1.00 – $1.50, now cost the city $5.60 per mask. Despite the outrageous markup due to demand, the city of Philadelphia ate the cost and put down $2.8m for the order from BJ Wholesale Club.

Two days ago, BJ said that it can’t fulfill the order.

Help From Socially Conscious Companies

Luckily, we have companies that are socially minded and going out of their way to support members in their community at this time. What Dutch Bros Coffee is doing sets an example of how companies can participate consciously during difficult times. Some organizations opted to lay off their workforce without a second thought. Others take advantage of a tragedy under the guise of compassion. We need more good companies like Dutch Bros Coffee.

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