To Lend a Helping Hand by Elisa

To Lend a Helping Hand by Elisa - March 2026 Scholarship Essay

Working in drive-thru coffee has given me the opportunity to collaborate with coworkers from different walks of life, and customers that are all united by their taste for drinks. Chatting with regulars and serving friends that come through the line are perks of the job. It’s rewarding to know that my service can make someone else's day better.
There was one regular who stopped by. He always ordered a medium frozen blue raspberry energy drink. His English was limited, but we always understood what he wanted. Like clockwork, he showed up in the middle of the day and got his energy drink (when we started selling sandwiches he got the jalapeno pepper jack).
This customer was homeless, living under the cover of the businesses next to where I worked. Not once did he disturb anyone, and seeing him stop by was a highlight of my shift. Later, I found out he used to live in the area that was now our coffee shop. There were a few people that refused to stop by because they believed us, the employees, kicked him out. On top of that, we learned he was a Military Veteran. We weren’t sure what happened or where his family was. But that didn’t matter. What was important was offering the best support we could give him.
We offered him his order for free with free drink cards as well. I offered him to taste test some of the coffees we had so that during the cold months he had options. Whenever he was at the window we talked to him, even if he didn’t have much to say back to us. Just knowing that he came back to our shop every day was what made the moment special to me.
Furthermore, my coworkers and I came together to create a bag of essentials so he could survive the winter months. Hot hands, gloves, jackets and blankets, thinks to keep him warm and safe. It was the least we could offer him as a thank you for making our day better at work. However, ever since that day, he hasn’t stopped by, but he also hasn’t been at his little corner either. My coworkers and I hold onto the hope that his life is changing for the better.
From this experience I learned that being compassionate doesn’t take a lot of effort. I don’t know what hardships he’s gone through, but I do know that extending a helping hand could have made his day better. If I was in a similar situation, I would be touched to know there are people in my community that are looking out for others. Moving forward, I understand the importance of being an active member in the community I inhabit. I want to do the same thing in the future, regardless of what I do for work, or where I am at.