If you've had coffee around Tampa Bay—that wasn’t from Starbucks—Luis Espel has most likely been involved with the process of making your brew. A staple in the local scene, Espel currently shifts his time between Alert and Eastlick Coffee Companies.
During Tampa’s water main break saga, when coffee shops across the area had to all but shut down due to non-potable water, Espel was there thanks to Alert’s self-contained, filtered water system.
But now he needs our help.
“Luis broke his clavicle in half while riding his bike recently and requires urgent surgery. Unfortunately, paying for the ER visit, x-rays, doctors, surgery, and rehab without insurance isn't cheap,” a GoFundMe set up for Espel said. Besides medical costs Espel—who hasn’t had a car in years, which is probably really good for the air quality—is out of work for an estimated four to five months.
As of publishing, the GoFundMe is just over its $10,000 goal, but we all know that unexpected expenses always come up when recovering from a major accident.
I believe Tampa’s best quality is the strength of us as a whole and the way we come together when one of our own is in need. And since most service industry folks don’t have insurance, someone who serves you needs your help. (We could go on a lengthy diatribe about healthcare injustice, but we’ll save that.)
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This article appears in Mar 11-17, 2021.