John Greenberg’s small donation of money to provide free coffee for local emergency service workers has started a new program called the Hero Fund and has inspired a chain reaction in the Stillwater community to donate as well.

The Hero fund is based out of the Daily Grind Espresso Cafe in downtown Stillwater. It puts donations of money into an account so when first responders walk in, they can get free coffee.

The idea was started by a former social studies teacher John Greenberg, when he walked into the cafe and gave them $80 to cover the cost for paramedics coffees until the money ran out. When the money was gone, managers Tim and Megan Palm decided to keep the idea around and let the general public donate money to pay for the coffee of firefighters, police officers, and medics.

“We were hoping that they would never have to pay for coffee ever again. That’s our hope. The community is quite behind that hope, because it hasn’t stopped yet. People have still been putting money in every single day. We really wanted to show the medics and the police and the firefighters that the community really loves them,” Megan Palm said.

Greenberg had fallen ill on multiple occasions and Lakeview paramedics had to transport him to United Hospital in St. Paul. He said how they did a wonderful job with him and how he wanted to find a way to repay them. The Hero Fund was created as a way to thank emergency service workers for all they do.

“People don’t realize how really good we have it. When I see a squad car, I feel comfortable because I know I’m safe. How do you pay these people back? They don’t get a lot of recognition. There should be more than just once a year where we say hey, thank you,” Greenberg said.

The cafe has anywhere from four to ten local first responders come in to get the free coffee every morning. The responders are blown away from the appreciation and the support from the community.

“The recognition is very gratifying,” Peter Ziemer an employee for the Lake Elmo Fire Department said. “It felt great to be appreciated by people who you are surrounded by every day. This job makes you feel like you are making a difference and that’s why I wanted to become a firefighter.”

The Hero Fund has been a successful way to honor our local heroes that serve the community.