Insurance business donates cups of kindness to people in need

AN INSURANCE business has kick-started a community initiative by donating free cups of coffee to people most in need.

RAW Insurance has joined forces with Joey’s Cafe in Kendal in Cumbria to pay forward dozens of cups of coffee.

The Pay with a Post-It initiative is open to anyone who has hit tough times during the Covid-19 pandemic and would benefit from a small act of kindness.

Customers who have lost their job or fell on hard times can take a Post-It note from the board in the cafe and exchange it for a free cup of coffee.

Russell Linton, who is an Account Executive with RAW Insurance, said the initiative aimed to help people who would appreciate a small act of generosity.

He said: “We wanted to show our support for the community during this difficult time and felt this was a good way to reach out to people. It’s very much a partnership between Joey’s Cafe and ourselves and we hope it will encourage others to donate a cup of coffee to a stranger as well.”

People can join the initiative by paying ahead for a cup of coffee and leaving a message of support on a Post-It note on the cafe’s board.

Joey’s Cafe, which is based at Castle Mills, has been open for takeaways throughout the pandemic, serving customers seven days a week.

Cafe owner, Joe Beaumont, said: “The Pay with a Post-It initiative is something which I have been wanting to do for a while. It allows people to benefit from a simple act of kindness without anyone asking any questions or knowing why they need it. It’s a small gesture which we hope will act as an incentive for other people to pay forward a cup of coffee, if they can afford to and would like to help.”

Carlisle-based RAW Insurance recently expanded into Kendal and the South Lakes, with Russell heading up the south Cumbrian office.

Russell, who has more than 30 years of experience working in the insurance industry in the Kendal and South Lakes area, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of something new and exciting, and I’m very much looking forward to helping grow the business in south Cumbria.

“I started my career in insurance in Kendal 30 years ago with Provincial, then with Talbot Insurance Brokers and have been based in the area ever since, working with clients across different sectors. It’s a brilliant place to live and work.”

Joey’s Cafe is open from 9.30am to 4pm every day, with late night opening until 9pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday for its pizza evenings. The cafe is currently offering a ‘Takeover Take Out’ specials menu where local chefs are invited to create dishes for the cafe.