MANSFIELD, Ohio — City Garden Cafe employee Nicole Streff is happy to give some of the tip money she earned over the past year to support a local animal welfare organization.
“I love animals,” she said. “I have a dog and a cat at home.”
Streff is one of six employees at the cafe who together donated $630.79 in tips to Club for Animal Respect and Education at Richland Newhope Industries, Inc.
“I think it’s fantastic that they wanted to do that,” said Leeann Means, cafe manager. “They all really love animals, too, so that was a motivating factor.”
CARE has been raising funds over the last month through bake sales and other fundraisers for the Mid-Ohio Animal Welfare League, and the cafe employees’ tip money was added to that contribution. The combined donation to MAWL totaled $875.81.
Danielle Griffith, a member of CARE, had the honor of presenting Anya Todd, MAWL director, the check during a special presentation at the cafe on Monday.
“I’m incredibly touched,” Todd said. “Whenever the community sees our efforts as being worthy, I don’t think you can ask for anything more than that.”
She said the donation will go toward spay and neuter costs.
“As an organization that advocates for animals, this type of a donation is exactly what we need and definitely going to be put to good use,” she said.
This is the second time since the cafe opened in January 2014 that tip money has been given to a community organization. The previous year, employees donated their tips to the food pantry operated by Richland Newhope’s Service and Support Administration (SSA).
Operated by Richland Newhope Industries, Inc. in partnership with the City of Mansfield, the City Garden Cafe provides employees with disabilities the opportunity to receive on-the-job experience in a food service setting.
