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Photo captures coffee shop employees comforting grieving widow

The Dutch Bros coffee stop became the focus of national attention after employees held prayers with a customer who had just lost her husband

 

Rachael Revesz
New York
Thursday 24 March 2016 15:55 GMT
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Three employees clasp the woman's hand as she drives by to pick up a coffee
Three employees clasp the woman's hand as she drives by to pick up a coffee (Facebook / Barbara Danner)

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Sometimes comfort and solace comes from the most unlikeliest of places.

When a woman’s 37-year-old husband died, she might not have expected employees at her local coffee drive-thru to be so supportive.

A picture on Facebook shows an unidentified woman sitting in her car next to Dutch Bros Coffee in Washington, Vancouver, her hand being held by three employees.

The picture was posted by another woman, Barbara Danner, who saw the scene and uploaded it onto Facebook.

It has since gone viral and has been shared over 120,000 times and gathered over 15,000 comments.

The post explained that when the employees at the coffee stop saw the woman become emotional in her car, they reached out their hands and prayed with her for a few minutes.

According to the Facebook post, the employees told the woman she was welcome back for more prayers and support.

Comments of support poured in, including stories of employees at the coffee chain being supportive when their customers said they had lost loved ones or pets.

“I stopped by after I had to put down a beloved pet. In my head a dutch bros coffee = comfort. They gave it to me for free along with some kind words. I've never forgotten that,” wrote Sherrie Chapman Vieira.

Natalie Bancroft also wrote: “I am not religious, but THIS is what we need for humanity: Empathy and understanding, true human connection, and love. Way to go Dutch Bros., once again, you did an amazing job at hiring your staff.”

Dutch Bros is headquartered in Oregon and has 233 branches across the US.

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