Treating your employees right always makes a difference.
That’s what one Starbucks supervisor found out after decades of working at the same job at Marshall University in West Virginia. The respect and kindness she had shown her employees hadn’t gone unnoticed.
And it all became obvious after her car broke down.
Karen Collinsworth, 65, has been the supervisor of the college’s Starbucks for most of her time at the college.
Her lengthy time there means that now she is in charge of a more youthful staff as they serve the students and faculty at the university.
“I’ve been here since 1976. I fell in love with Huntington. I’m from outside of Columbus, Ohio,” Collinsworth said.
I’ve been in the food industry since 1978 and that is my passion. I’ve loved waiting tables, I just do. Your customer service develops and you just want to please people.”
That happiness is what everyone loves about her.
Karen Collinsworth (center) with her staff — and R2D2. Photo courtesy of Jaiden Horn
“I love coming into work knowing that she’s gonna be there. I talk to her about literally everything,” said Cassie Gray, a sophomore who works with Collinsworth. “She’s like my mom when I’m away from home and can’t talk to my mom. So it’s just like a relief, being able to go in there and talk to her and knowing that she’s going to help me work through whatever.”
So when her car stopped working, the girls knew they wanted to help her.
“She actually has had car problems probably the entire time I’ve known her,” Gray said. “But Karen doesn’t like to talk about it because she didn’t want people feeling bad for her or anything like that.”
Collinsworth’s car problems just kept getting worse.
“One day she came into work, and she was like, ‘Yeah, somebody stole my catalytic converter last night, my car just isn’t doing well,’” said Jaiden Horn, another sophomore and co-worker of Collinsworth.
So they started discussing it with their other co-workers.
“We all just kind of talked about it and we floated around the idea of starting a fundraiser for her,” Gray said. “After work when I got back to my dorm, I decided to just make it because I figured even if we couldn’t raise that much money, any amount would help her.”
A GoFundMe, titled “We Love You Karen” was created. The page stated that it was to “help her buy a working car and ensure she wouldn’t have to worry about monthly bills.” They hoped to raise $10,000.
As of this article, more than $40,000 has been raised.
Horn said that all the baristas shared the GoFundMe on social media apps. They passed the $10,000 goal fundraiser within 24 hours.
Collinsworth was shocked when she was told.
“I was taken aback when I found out. It was very overwhelming. I knew these kids loved me because I love them,” she said. “But for them to be 19-year-old college students … They have so much going on in their life, but then to take care of their Starbucks mom, Karen.”
That’s just how big their hearts are.”
Of the 1,200 donations, most were $5 ones. But it was those donations that moved Collinsworth the most.
Collinsworth and her new car. Photo courtesy of C.J. Blosser
“All the $5 donations meant more to me than $1,000 or $3,000,” she said. “It was just precious coming from these college kids that can’t afford a cup of coffee. Just goes to show you their kindness.”
Originally Collinsworth said she planned to just use the funds to fix her car. But, she said, her daughter helped talk her into a brand new Kia Sportage.
“I know those kids love me and that’s what makes my life worthwhile,” Collinsworth said. “They didn’t have to do something for me like this. It’s just enough knowing that I’m so cared about.”
Watch below for a look at the lovely surprise given to Collinsworth.
