RAPID CITY, S.D. – In a time when many are feeling the weight of uncertainty, one local business owner is offering a little comfort in a cup.
Patti Griffin, owner of Alternative Fuel in downtown Rapid City, is serving free drinks to government and military employees affected by the ongoing government shutdown.
Griffin said the idea came to her as she thought about what she could do to make a difference, even in a small way. “I decided, why don’t I give something,” she said. “I can give drinks here and there. I can’t do it one hundred percent of the time, but I can do it a little bit at a time.”
Eligible customers include government employees, military personnel, and retirees. Griffin said individuals can simply show their ID badge when visiting the shop. “We’ll just make whatever they would like us to make for them. A mocha or even the alternative milks, everything’s on the house,” she said.
Her goal is simple: to brighten someone’s day when it feels dim. “It’s just a pick-me-up,” Griffin said. “Something to say, you’re going through a hard situation, but here’s to a better day.”
Griffin said her kindness comes from lessons learned early in life. Her father, a schoolteacher, taught her to live with compassion and sincerity. “He always instilled in me whatever is in your heart needs to be on your sleeve as well,” she said.
Although she isn’t asking for financial help, Griffin said anyone who feels moved to contribute can do so. “If anybody is so inclined, we’ll put it down on the books to pay it forward,” she said.
At a time when frustration and fatigue can feel overwhelming, Griffin’s generosity stands as a reminder that even the smallest gestures, a warm drink, a kind smile, a little understanding, can go a long way.
Alternative Fuel is located at Main Street Square in downtown Rapid City.