Unofficial Food Charity @ Costa Coffee

I set out early today, before most people got to work, and walked for two hours in a new direction, arriving in a commercial part of a borough near mine. At this point the shops were just opening and people were arriving at their various places of work. I walked past the window of a Costa cafe and noticed an empty window seat. A great opportunity for a pit stop and a morning coffee I figured. I had anticipated that I might decide to get some work done so I had my keyboard and iPad with me.

I planted myself there for the next two hours while I typed away. I have, even until now, a lot of typing to catch up on. I am in the middle of a project I’m doing with someone that involves me writing some chapters in two different languages (neither of which is English). Yes I speak, read and write in several languages actually.

Anyhow, as I was typing away, sipping on my coffee, I noticed a homeless man casually walk in and help himself to some food from the fridge and walk out. I think he got a french toast, a baguette and two bottles of orange juice. It looked like he was getting some for his mates too. I made eye contact with another customer who also noticed it happen and laughed about it. A couple of minutes later, the man walked in and took another sandwich. It was hilarious to watch.

Later on a member of staff came to reorganise and replenish the fridge and I bought her attention to the fact that a man walked in and helped himself to some food. Not only was she not surprised, she was unbothered by it. ”It happens every day, it’s a charity at this point”. Wow. I wonder if Costa actively turns a blind eye to this. Is this perhaps indeed a charity? I mean, they probably throw away just as much food as is stolen. Who knows.

I think I’m not as against people stealing food as I am people stealing luxury items for example. And I think most people probably feel the same. One is to do with survival and desperate need. The other is to do with greed. Nobody needs Bang & Olufsen headphones to survive. Everybody needs food. I think that humanity in us is why even the staff at Costa, and perhaps the management at Costa too, are so relaxed about what is really just outright theft. I also suspect it doesn’t affect their bottom line much. I mean, coffee is so profitable that the food is probably just there for show anyway.

Peace & Love,

Adé