Starbucks partners, customers and suppliers celebrated its fourth annual Global Month of Service by renovating the facilities at the Al Rashad Centre for Autism in Saar, Bahrain.

A total of 38 Starbucks partners, customers and suppliers spent an estimated 259 hours renovating the centre’s garden and the children’s play area, said a statement.

They were joined by 20 volunteers from surrounding Autism centres, who played with the children while renovations were carried out, it said.

The Global Month of Service is part of Starbucks’ company-wide commitment to help create flourishing neighborhoods wherever it does business.

Held every April, the initiative invites partners and customers to roll up their sleeves and participate in community service projects that help create positive and sustainable change.

The Al Rashad Centre renovation was one of the many projects carried out across the region, reinforcing Starbucks’ commitment to making its local communities stronger.

Rana Shaheen, regional communications and CSR manager for Starbucks Mena, said: “This is the fourth consecutive year that Starbucks partners have set out to make a real difference in the lives of people around them. It is an inspiring and rewarding month, something we all look forward to every year.

“Helping with the renovations of the  Al Rashad Centre for Autism was our way of showing support for this part of the community. More importantly , it has helped us raise awareness about autism and all the ways in which the centre caters to autistic people.”

This year’s Global Month of Service saw more than 882 Starbucks partners, 244 customers and 30 local suppliers volunteer a total of 7,764 hours to participate in community service initiatives held across 10 different markets including Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Egypt, Morocco, Lebanon, Jordan and Bahrain. - TradeArabia News Service