Autistic barista was heartbroken after a thief stole his $20 tip. The town instantly stepped up to make things right
People were angry that someone could do that to Michael who was making an earnest living
$20 might not be a big deal to many, but for Red, White & Brew barista, Michael Coyne, it meant more than you can imagine. When it suddenly disappeared from his tip jar on March 4, it set off a chain of events he never expected. Coyne, who was diagnosed with autism, ADHD, and bipolar disorder, had a shop set up for him by his adoptive mother, Sheila Coyne, who used her retirement funds to make the purchase.
At the moment, Michael's only source of income is the tip jar, and because he considers his customers his friends, it hit him harder than it should. “It wasn’t about the money,” Sheila told The New York Times. “He was just profoundly sad that somebody did that to him.”
Coyne runs the small coffee shop in Rhode Island but is currently operating at a loss after he and his mother moved to a bigger location. A day after the theft, the chief of the Warwick Police Department dropped by the store for a cup of coffee and heard about the incident. He immediately went out to get Michael a new tip jar with a lid. He also told the Coynes that he would look into the matter, since he knew it upset Michael. Sheila also did her part, spreading awareness by posting a video on Facebook and Instagram. People who knew the Coynes were angry that someone could do that to Michael, who was making an earnest living.
They did not just leave comments on Sheila's video but decided to step up in real life. The following day, people started coming into Michael's coffee shop and left him tips.
A mother with an autistic son said that Michael inspired and gave her hope that her son will be able to stand up on his own as well. “She got a latte and handed me a $100 bill," Michael told TODAY. Two days later, Michael's tip jar was filled to the brim, and even the Mayor of Warwick, Frank Picozzi, visited him.
By the end of the day, Michael had accumulated $900 in cash. Sheila was utterly grateful for how the people in their community had supported them. She said, "That was the most special part. It was truly just one person after another, leading with such kindness and grace that it renewed my love for humans and humanity."
Tipping is considered to be the norm in America, but the way people tip depends on various factors. According to a Pew Research Center study, they surveyed about 12,000 American adults to see their stance on tipping. About 77% of the adults say that the tip depends on the quality of service. People also tip depending on the type of service. 92% would tip at restaurants, 76% of the participants tipped when getting food delivered, 70% while drinking at a bar, and only 25% when getting a coffee.
Another study revealed that people who have worked for tips (28%) are more likely to leave the barista tips, compared to those who did not work for tips (22%). While numbers can break down tipping habits, it is more than just numbers for Michael.
People poured into the comment section of the Facebook post to empathize with Michael. Emilie Carpenter, a fellow small business owner, offered to help. She wrote, "Sorry to hear this happened to you, Michael. Very disappointing, especially as a fellow small business owner. We can’t get down as frequently as we’d like, but could we help recoup what may have been lost? Maybe via Venmo?"
Danielle Ferreira Burns wrote, "Michael, I'm sorry to hear that someone was not as kind. All we can hope is it was someone who needed more. It doesn't make it right, but karma will come back around. Hope your next week is a better one. Maybe attach a tip box to the counter with a lock. You want to make sure they can't run away with it either. It is gonna be OK, Michael; the light will shine again. We will see you soon, friends of Special Olympics."
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