To a lot of people, coffee is energy.
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It's something that helps them get up in the morning, push through a tough afternoon and relax in the evening.
One group of people who may need the biggest lift in the energy department are medical workers, who have been run ragged throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, one Ballarat cafe is using the generosity of the wider community to help those workers in need of a pick-me-up.
Turret Cafe, located only a few hundred metres from the Ballarat health district has launched a pay it forward initiative, allowing customers to purchase coffees for hospital staff and ambulance drivers both in store and remotely.
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Cafe manager Carmel West got the idea after seeing a similar initiative happening in Melbourne. She told The Courier she stayed up all night thinking of the best way to implement the initiative.
"When everything started to happen, it was an overwhelmingly anxious time for everybody," she said.
"I saw a similar initiative happening in Melbourne and I remember just staying up all night trying to figure out what we could do."
After setting up the ability to donate through the Skip app, Mrs West said she was very emotional seeing the first few donations come through.
When we launched our pay it forward program, the first donation that came through left me in tears all morning.
- Turret Cafe manager Carmel West.
Moving forward, the cafe has seen the number of donations increase both through the app and in person.
Mrs West says she's been blown away by the pure volume of donations and praised the generosity of the Ballarat community.
"It's been incredible... people have been so generous," she said.
"We've got almost a box of dockets that have been paid for so everyday we ring up different sections of the hospital and see what orders they would like and deliver it to them.
"We've had all sorts of people come in and make donations. Some people will pay for two coffees but only take one for themselves and others have left hundreds of dollars... it's blown all of us away."
Mrs West says when her staff take the boxes of coffee to the hospital staff throughout the day, you can see the gratitude on their faces.
"The healthcare workers and ambulance drivers have been so appreciative. Any help they can get means so much at the moment."
She added the initiative would continue going forward and may continue to grow, referencing Monday was the first day the cafe had begun offering free coffee's for ambulance drivers as well.
"Every donation, no matter how big or small will always be welcome and appreciated as we look to push through this difficult time together."
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