Troop Talk

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Next week in Troop Talk I will begin responding to the many questions I have received during recent visits with Soldiers. However, I think it is appropriate at this time that the following letter be published in response to a rumor that was circulated regarding Starbucks and the company’s support of our men and women in uniform. 
The letter from their Customer Relations Department reads:  “Starbucks has the deepest respect and admiration for U.S. military personnel. We are extremely grateful to the men and women who serve stateside or overseas. We sincerely appreciate that they are willing to risk their lives to protect Americans and our values of freedom and democracy. While Starbucks as a company cannot directly donate to military personnel, many of our partners (employees) show their support by donating coffee.  

Recently, there was an e-mail circulating the internet that contained misinformation about Starbucks and our support of the military.  Starbucks was able to locate the author who turned out to be a Marine Sergeant. He was very grateful that we contacted him and apologized for any misunderstanding, as he did not intend to spread the rumor. He subsequently sent an e-mail to his original distribution list correcting his mistake.

I would like to take this opportunity to clarify Starbucks policy regarding charitable contributions. We are able to donate to nonprofit organizations that are designated as public charities under Section 501(c) (3) of the IRS Code, including public libraries and schools. The U.S. military or individual military personnel do not qualify as a public charity.

However, on an individual level, many Starbucks partners have collected and shipped numerous pounds of Starbucks coffee overseas.  Starbucks partners receive one pound of free coffee each week as an employee benefit (known as “partner mark-out”). Many of our partners have elected to send their weekly mark-out of coffee to members of the military or military families, and related organizations.

As an example of this generosity, our partners in our Atascadero, Calif. store sent their weekly mark out coffee to troops in Afghanistan so they are able to enjoy a little piece of home. Our customer relations department in Seattle donated hundreds of pounds of coffee to the sailors in the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group. These are just a few examples of our partners supporting the troops. We recognize and appreciate the very personal connection that customers have with us and how they might miss their Starbucks Experience while overseas. We ask you to accept our deepest appreciation to servicemen and women…”

We appreciate the prompt response from Starbucks and thank them for their continued support of our military who are serving in many dangerous places around the world.   

Maj. Gen. Michael A. Vane
Fort Bliss Commanding General