I rarely do this kind of thing on this blog, but I’m putting a call out to my most loyal readers to help a Starbucks partner move to Seattle. The partner is Jamie, who lives in Arkansas, and she’s been given an opportunity to move to Seattle to join the Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room.
Seattle is a tough city. Her gofundme page only has a goal of $2,000 which strikes me as surprisingly low. This city is booming and rents are rising. The average rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle is now right around $1,500 according to this news article, and in the area where the Roastery is, that figure is closer to $1,700. Consider the daunting prospect of first, last, and a deposit on an apartment in Seattle.
Once she gets settled in here, she’ll be earning an income but I can easily understand that there are costs and expenses involved with this move across country. Even with any relocation assistance, I think the true cost of moving to Seattle (packing up a family, moving boxes cars, and many miscellaneous expenditures) is pretty high. By the time you pay costs of getting out of the place where you were, transportation, and even first month’s rent and a deposit, … well, that adds up.
I’m asking you to help Jamie out. If you are a fellow partner, help a partner out. If you are a customer reading this, please consider a small donation. Even if you only can give $5, it will add up if lots of people do that.
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Jamie is a lucky girl! I bet she started around the same time I did (almost two years ago). I get so inspired when I see the big guys in Seattle reach out and pluck bright partners out of the middle of the country and make their dreams come true. It proves to me that anyone can make it to Seattle if they want it badly enough. Hopefully some day I can join Dylan and Jamie. 🙂 Great post Melody!
Claire, I hope so! The Roastery is a place of massive talent – you should be there too!
Always happy to help. Such a great opportunity for her.
If Jamie has spent her life in the South this move to Seattle will be quite a culture shock. This is the opportunity of a lifetime and I am glad I had a little extra that I could contribute.
While I am sometimes critical of Washington’s West side, I do consider Seattle and the many interesting and unique places around it be something that everyone needs to experience.
@DadCooks and all, thank you for supporting Jamie. Seattle could be a shock. But all of this is driven by passion, which is what Starbucks hopes for in partners. Business through the lens of humanity. How Starbucks thinks anyone making just a little over minimum wage can relocate on short notice to one of the more expensive cities ( in oh so many ways!) in the US, leaves me puzzled.
I moved from Jonesboro Arkansas to Portland Oregon in August 2011! It costed a lot in terms of moving expense! And it was indeed a huge culture shock! No more Walmart around the corner (2 Walmart stores in Jonesboro). Good luck! Take the North route if you drive during summer! Stop by yellowstone if u can!