Barista Offers Much More Than Morning Coffee

A Tacoma barista has gone far beyond offering good customer service. The barista, Sandi Anderson, is donating one of her kidneys to long-time customer Annamarie Ausnes.

Like hundreds of thousands of other Americans, Annamarie's kidneys are failing and none of her family members are a match for donation. In November, when she broke the bad news to her friendly Starbucks barista, Anderson decided to lend much more than a supportive shoulder to cry on. Anderson proved to be a match and made the extraordinary offer of donating a kidney to her customer.

The surgery is scheduled for next month. Anderson will have to take six weeks off work to prepare and heal from the surgery, but doesn't seem to have any nerves about it. "I'm so excited about what we get to do. It's an exciting thing and I get to be part of it," said Anderson. There will be a fundraiser on February 24th at The University of Puget Sound to benefit both women.