TULSA, Okla. — The DoubleShot Coffee Company is fighting COVID-19 with an 'unexpected friend.' A desultorily shaped plush toy meant to add a bit of relief and education to those who buy it at the coffee shop.
Store owner Brian Franklin came up with the idea last week while on a run.
"I just kept thinking what could we do to help out and do our part," Franklin said. "I came up with this and it seemed stupid, but then I thought it's silly and can give people a stress relief for a bit."
Franklin made a mock drawing of the creature.
"I had looked up what the virus had looked like and I new it had spikes," Franklin said. "My employees helped me make it cuter for people to enjoy."
He then sewed one together with an old shirt.
"I am not a sewer but I learned how pretty quick," Franklin said.
Then, 'Covie' was born. A soft, green, oddly shaped critter to be sold in his coffee shop and online.
“It's just this soft plushy toy, I mean its ridiculous but it makes you feel better," Franklin said.
Each plushy comes with a Center's for Disease Control information sheet about COVID-19, how to prevent it from spreading, and how you can keep yourself and others safe.
"This is a time when we can show that we won't back down," Franklin said. "We are going to get through this."
Proceeds from Covie purchases benefit the Center's for Disease Control Foundation's crowd sourcing campaign to fight coronavirus.
DoubleShot Coffee has sold over 40 at $20 a plushy.
Franklin employs 17 full-time staff members at DoubleShot.
Each Covie takes about an hour to make.
“For each one we sell it gives my employees an hour of payroll," Franklin said. "All the people that I hire are hard workers and they want to be here."
Baristas, who are now much less busy due to citywide limitations on restaurants amid coronavirus, make the little creatures on the coffee shop's second floor.
"This helps keep them employed," Franklin said. "So people can also feel good knowing that every plushy they buy helped give a barista an hour of paid work."
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