SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – On Monday, February 3, the Marcella Foundation partnered with Starbucks at the Y to give donated bags of surplus coffee and a delicious box of fresh donuts to local first responders as a token of appreciation for their dedication to the community. Stations from South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue (SLTFR), Lake Valley Fire Protection District (LVFPD), the California Conservation Corps (CCC), Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District (TDFPD), and Barton Health received this generous contribution.
Starbucks at the Y contacted the Marcella Foundation’s FeedTahoe program with a large surplus coffee donation and requested that it honor South Lake Tahoe’s first responders. FeedTahoe coordinated the effort, added donuts to the delivery, and enlisted the help of California Climate Action Corps Fellows Katie Sloan and Lily Summerville, and a group of committed community volunteers. Each station received a five-pound bag of coffee beans, a dozen donuts, and a heartfelt thank you card as a small token of gratitude for their tireless work.
This effort was particularly meaningful given the recent deployments of local fire crews to assist in fighting the Eaton and Palisades fires in Los Angeles last month. Strike teams from multiple agencies, including SLTFR, LVFPD, TDFPD, and CCC Tahoe Meyers Fire Crew, were deployed to aid in these large-scale wildfire suppression efforts.
In addition to recognizing first responders, the Marcella Foundation’s FeedTahoe program provided an opportunity for volunteers to participate in the distribution. Through FeedTahoe’s app-based platform, volunteers can sign up for food rescue missions, reducing waste and delivering food to those in need.
“Our community thrives on the dedication of both our first responders and our volunteers,” said Melissa Uppendahl, Executive Director of the Marcella Foundation. “We are proud to partner with Starbucks and give back in any way we can and are grateful to those who continue to serve.”
For more information on volunteering with the Marcella Foundation and FeedTahoe, visit feedtahoe.org.
