ALBION, Mich. — BIGGBY® COFFEE Albion celebrates their sixth anniversary! Rather than celebrating with drink discounts, Albion BIGGBY® COFFEE and Milkster Nitrogen Creamery and BIGGBY® COFFEE Cooper St. will be donating proceeds to a local family that experienced tragedy this holiday season.
When a work accident left Springport, Mich., man Drew Harding pinned underneath a piece of work equipment shortly before Christmas, life for the Harding family changed. Harding’s wife, Sam, and parents, Bob and Pam, dropped everything to be by his side. As he underwent multiple surgeries over the next few days, doctors were able to repair him. The family, however, is expecting a long recovery. Randy and Brandy Neelis, owners of Albion BIGGBY® COFFEE and Milkster Nitrogen Creamery (217 E. Michigan Ave, Albion, Mich.) and BIGGBY® COFFEE Cooper St. (405 S Cooper St., Jackson, Mich.) will be donating all sales proceeds Tuesday, January 8, to the Harding family.
The Neelis’s are close friends with the family. They live in the same community, are involved in 4H together, and even have a high school wrestling connection. When the Neelis family heard of the accident, they knew they needed to come together to help this family. Brandy noted that the couple considered hosting a spaghetti dinner before they decided on donating their stores sales to the family.
“We’ve already got employees working…and we have the potential to raise a lot more money this way,” Brandy said.
While she noted they know Workmans Comp will step in eventually, they want to be there for the family now—sending meals and gift cards to the hospital, helping with chores around the house and anywhere else they can lend a helping hand. They hope that the funds earned from the two BIGGBY® COFFEE locations will help ease the financial burden. Brandy expressed that they’re hoping for a good turnout Tuesday, as they have many baristas volunteering to help keep the stores stocked and clean.
