Karen Collinsworth, a Starbucks supervisor at Marshall University, has always been a source of warmth and support for students. Known as the “Starbucks mom,” she has spent years looking out for her young co-workers. When her aging car was repeatedly breaking down—and then burglarized—her team decided to step in.
A group of student baristas started a GoFundMe campaign, hoping to raise $10,000 to help Collinsworth buy a reliable vehicle. Within 24 hours, donations flooded in, surpassing their goal. As word spread, faculty, students, and even Marshall University’s president contributed, pushing the total past $40,000.
Collinsworth was overwhelmed by the kindness, especially knowing that many of the donations came from students with limited budgets. Now, instead of repairing her old Kia, she’s planning to purchase a Subaru, a gift made possible by the generosity of those she has cared for over the years.