"That really hurt me. I was disappointed for sure. It wasn't about the money. He was just profoundly sad that somebody did that to him. Most of their customers are regulars, so the theft felt personal to her son, who works the register and prepares beverages."
"He couldn't even get an interview. He was struggling at every turn. After he tried for about four years to secure a job, Sheila Coyne withdrew from her retirement savings to open a coffee shop for her son. He was really interested in food service, and I thought, what better way to connect him to a community than a coffee shop?"
Michael Coyne, 30, operates Red White and Brew Coffeehouse in Warwick, Rhode Island with his mother Sheila after struggling to find employment due to his disabilities including autism, ADHD, and bipolar disorder. When approximately $20 was stolen from his tip jar in early March, leaving only $2, Coyne experienced profound sadness rather than anger over the financial loss. His mother opened the coffee shop in 2019 after Coyne spent four years unsuccessfully seeking employment, withdrawing from her retirement savings to create an opportunity for him. The family-run business moved to a larger location in 2024 and employs people with disabilities, with Coyne's only income coming from tips.
Read at The Washington Post
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