David Bright has “some premium coffee” — it just happened to be Starbucks this week — that he gives away to at least 40 Ohio University students every Monday morning, no strings attached.
“Monday just seemed like a good day to do it, to brighten people’s day or week,” Bright, 62, said. He’s a former Ohio Division of Wildlife worker who has lived in the Athens area since the 1970s.
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For the past seven years or so, as a member of Athens First Christian Church, 24 W. State St., Bright has led up the church’s “Breakfast on the Run” program, a community outreach program. Bright says netting church members isn’t a factor, though it’d be welcomed.
Indeed, the coffee, orange juice and granola bars that were spread out on a folding card table and a small wire-frame cart were not accompanied with prayer, scripture or any church literature.
Besides the fact that it was right outside the steps of the church, the only indicator that the church sponsors the weekly event is a sign that reads “Breakfast on the Run! Brought to you by: Athens First Christian Church. Free!! Free!! Free!!”
Bright said the money for the food and drinks comes from the congregation, but that “the walls of this church” don’t mean only Christians are invited to grab a go-cup of coffee.
“We don’t want to be overpowering,” Bright said, “and we never turn anyone away.”
He said he can serve at least 40 students a morning and, sometimes, as many as 80. Although he noted that he’s not always the church member running the operation outside the church on Mondays, he usually is.
He sets up about 7:45 a.m. and takes it down just before 9:40 a.m., in line with what Bright called “the last big rush to a morning class.”
“That 9:40, that’s the big one,” he said.
The half dozen or so still-half-asleep students who stopped by during my visit — too busy and in a hurry and probably hungover to talk to a reporter — seemed to enjoy it.
“Thanks a lot,” one student said. “Gee, thanks,” said another.
“You need a cup of coffee this morning?” Bright asked one female student, who pulled out her ear buds just for a split second as she accepted the offer. “Of course I do,” she said back.
The visits students make only last seconds and their interactions with Bright are even shorter. And, of course, there are the students who don’t want anything to do with the innocent coffee offering. They either don’t look Bright’s way — head down, ear buds in — or they accidentally do, and have to offer up a “Nah, I’m good” when Bright offers up treats.
Regardless, Bright says there’s never been a morning when no student has stopped by. So the random act of kindness — with a cup of Joe on the side — will continue on at this Athens intersection.
Joshua Jamerson writes a weekly column for The Post’s news pages. Jamerson is a senior studying journalism and senior editor at The Post.
@joshjame
jj360410@ohio.edu