A Season of Yes: Giving Back to the Baden Community

As a child, my parents instilled the importance of giving back when we can, especially around the holidays. My family and I would volunteer together or sometimes it was a simple drop of a bag filled with food for someone in need. That spirit of giving has always been in my heart, but admittedly it has flickered in and out over the years as I’ve travelled through different seasons of life. This year it was brighter than ever and I was ready to do more.

November 4, 2025
I reached out to our leadership team with an idea: what if we found a way to reach those in need this holiday season? The response was immediate. A resounding yes.

November 15, 2025
Brittany quickly became my why. She is emotional and impactful within the community and I came across her through social media as she fought for the Baden community years before. I met Brittany at our Crescent café to talk through how Kaldi’s Coffee could support the Baden community in North St. Louis, Missouri—a neighborhood deeply affected by poverty and violence, yet home to so many wonderful children full of opportunity. I left that meeting with no notes… and tears in my eyes.

November 22, 2025
Rachel from our social media team joined me on a visit to Baden to meet families and children who needed support. We were welcomed with open arms, warm food, and smiles all around. We shared cans of cold brew, cases of Fitz’s Coffee Cola, and—of course—a few baked goods from the café.

On the drive back to the roastery, Rachel and I talked nonstop about what we had witnessed. We were inspired, motivated, and deeply moved—but also unsure where to begin. The needs were everywhere.

December 1, 2025
In the busiest season of the year, Rachel sent Brittany collateral to help share a call to action. Brittany and Kaldi’s Coffee posted a reel that brought many to tears. It was time to move.

December 2, 2025
I asked our owners and café leadership teams a simple question: How can we make an impact?

We secured three large donation boxes placed throughout the city—Kirkwood, Chesterfield, and Ladue. Tricia Zimmer generously offered $2,500 to go directly toward toys for children. Because every child deserves the magic of Christmas.

The following weeks were a blur. The roastery lobby filled with donations—puppet sets, books, hygiene items, baby food, spices, swaddling blankets, coats. So many thoughtful, beautiful items these families truly needed.

One person would drop off a donation, then another would head back to their car to grab more. The piles kept growing. My coworkers are incredible, and this effort simply wouldn’t have been possible without every single donation and every hand that helped.

Toy Drive Week

This was a true group effort. So many hands helped load truck after truck for the Baden community.

Kaldi’s Coffee donated a Sprinter van for transport, and we filled it floor to ceiling. I warned the crew to unload only from the back—the Tetris game we played to pack it was not one you wanted to test by opening the wrong door.

Our friends at Dubuque Coffee donated an additional transport vehicle. First Student Inc. showed up with a 40-foot school bus—and yes, we filled that too. Overflowing donation boxes were collected from all three locations.

It was finally time to deliver.

December 20, 2025

I arrived proudly with my team—the largest volunteer group of the day. We served coffee and hot chocolate and transformed the street into a market where families could “shop.”

The energy was incredible. Giving back during the holiday season felt deeply fulfilling. These were our neighbors. These were our children. And we were able to share something meaningful together.

Here’s how it worked:

• Everyone received a warm outfit: coats, pants, gloves, shoes, shirts, and hats
  
  

• Everyone received food: muffins, pomegranates, pasta, spices
  
  

• Everyone received books and stuffed animals (no limit)
  
  

• Each child received four tickets to shop for what they wanted
  
  

Bikes with helmets. Tiana Barbie dolls. Pretend play food and outfits. Soccer balls. Strollers. Baby gear. So much joy.

The light in the families’ eyes was unforgettable. We were a small part of something much bigger. We connected over hot chocolate, held hands, and walked through the market together—helping guide children to toys we knew they’d love. It’s hard to know when to stop telling this story, because the impact was real and lasting.

What started with me transformed into we. We couldn’t have done this without our village—the teammates we work alongside every day, the guests who stop in on their way to work, and the people near and far who make Kaldi’s Coffee what it is.

I am so proud to be a part of it.