Iced coffee and community. These are perhaps my two most favorite things about being a Rhode Islander. There’s nothing more satisfying than drinking a Dunkin’ Donuts iced coffee to get me through the work day and the bedtime routine, and now that the weather has finally turned from eternal winter to full on summer mode, I know I can openly embrace my Dunks iced coffee addiction (because yes, I am that person who opts for iced coffee, even in the dead of winter).
But this May, I’m even more excited about purchasing my daily iced coffee at Dunkin’ Donuts because of its support of Hasbro Children’s Hospital through its annual Iced Coffee Day and its new partnership with Good Night Lights.
If you haven’t heard of Good Night Lights, it’s an amazing tradition in which local residents, businesses, and law enforcement officials let the kids at Hasbro Children’s Hospital know they’re thinking of them. Every night, at exactly 8:30 p.m., Good Night Lights community members shine flashlights (and police cars, firetrucks and ambulances turn on their lights) toward the hospital from various locations in downtown Providence. In return, patients in the hospital flicker their room lights on and off and shine their own flashlights from their windows. It’s an inspiring sight to see and brings a beacon of hope to all involved. Good Night Lights is a reflection of community building at its finest.
Conceptualized in 2010 to support Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Dunkin’ Donuts’ started the now annual tradition of Iced Coffee Day. For every iced coffee sold at Dunkin’ Donuts locations in Rhode Island and Bristol County, Massachusetts on Iced Coffee Day, Dunkin’ Donuts franchisees in the area donate $1 to the hospital. This year, Iced Coffee Day will take place on Wednesday, May 23rd, so mark your calendars!
But this community partnership gets better. Iced Coffee Day is all about helping the brave kids and their families at Hasbro, and so is Good Night Lights. This year, we are getting in the spirit early! Starting this week, participating Dunkin’ Donuts will be handing out a small keychain flashlight that is marked with the date of Iced Coffee Day with your purchase. A little trinket to keep the big day top of mind!
On May 23rd, all day long on Iced Coffee Day, Dunkin’ Donuts will host mini events at various store locations. Political figures and local celebrities (did someone say the New England Patriots??), will work the windows at different Dunkin’ Donuts locations, and of course, Dunkin’ Donuts will be handing out flashlights all day long for Good Night Lights.
The Iced Coffee Day celebration will conclude on the evening of May 23rd with a “block party” at India Point Park, where everyone who has received a flashlight and all community members, are invited to head on over for a night of games, food and fun, all leading to a HUGE 8:30 p.m. flashlight flash to all our friends at Hasbro Children’s Hospital.
So today, on my way to work, I’ll head to my local Dunkin’ Donuts to purchase my beloved iced coffee and receive my small keychain flashlight. And I’ll be at Dunks’ again on May 23rd for Iced Coffee Day. I hope you’ll join me as well.
