Austin Knows That Generosity Is Its Own Reward

Ain't nobody can do this thing alone, friends.

Not even the Austin Chronicle's mighty Hot Sauce Festival can support the Capital Area Food Bank all by its annual Scoville-busting self. I mean, don't even, y'know? That's why all manner of good citizens pitch in – day in and day out, especially now with colder weather and the holidays coming – to help provide sustenance to those in need.

Right now I'm looking at Bennu Coffee, the popular 24/7 caffeine source and student waystation over on MLK, which is hosting a food drive until November 9th. And I'm looking at Bennu in particular because, even at my most altruistic, I never diss the chance to score a little something in exchange for a good deed well done.

Especially when it's more than just "a little something."

Listen: Until Friday of next week, every time you donate a nonperishable food item to Bennu's drive, they're gonna give you a raffle ticket. You keep bringing those items in, they're gonna keep those tickets coming. And I'm not telling you this just so you'll donate – because you could do that in a whole bunch of different places, anytime. And I'm not telling you this just so you might have a snowball's chance in hell at winning, what, one free mocha latte or whatever? No, I'm telling you this because this particular food drive's prize-packages are … well, as the Chron's social-media editor Mark Fagan might put it:

Bennu's prize packages are off the effin' chain, bro!

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

[Note: He'd say it just like that, too: Effin'.
He's all randomly polite that way, our Fagan.]

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

But, anyway, yes: Three different prize-packages will be awarded – with a special Most Generous package going to the person who brings in the highest number of items at one time. And among the various treasures included in those packages are:

Aerial Skills Classes from Sky Candy

Improv Lessons from The Hideout

Tea and Candy from Texas Coffee Traders

T-shirts from Your Favorite Eastside Watering Holes

A French Press & Pounds of Coffee for that Press

Giftcards to Taco Mex, Hoboken Pies, Fricano's Deli, and (duh) Bennu

Bottles of Chameleon Cold Brew

And, you know what? Yes: A bit more than that. So haul your compassionate carcass to Bennu soon, neighbor, with a nonperishable food item (or ten) and help them help others while helping yourself to the possibility of some sweet, sweet reward for the sort of thing that all of us should be doing more of anyway.