Woman is upset with Starbucks because it won't donate coffee to troops

What next? Boycott Kellogg's because it won't send free boxes of Rice Krispies to Iraq? UPDATE: Lucy Vega, the woman behind the boycott, states her position in the COMMENTS section here. (Salinas Californian) (NOTE: This story was originally posted before Starbucks announced its coffee donation.)

Comments

[screwyourfrappucinno]

Okay- this was addressed on snopes.com. See http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/starbucks.asp

I'm calling B.S. because a lot of partners have donated their mark-outs. I don't blame Starbucks for not wanting to direcly support the military. Hello, the founders were anti-war protesters.
And besides, don't our thousands and thousands of tax dollars already do that? Appreciate the partners that do donate and shut up already.

[duh]

ummm does foldgers or maxwell house donate? they make a lot more money than starbucks and produce a hell of a lot more coffee. besides, i asked an ex-marine who was in iraq and he said one of the only things they didn't drink was coffee because it was HOT AS HELL there.

This is a great article. Anyone who has ever worked in customer service has had to deal with people like Vega, people who threaten to go to the news-gathering media with their story if they don't get what they want.

It's nice to see that a customer finally did that. And it's even sweeter to see the treatment she received at the hands of the reporter.

Check it: Not a single friend or co-worker could be produced to substantiate her claim of boycott success. Her own brother doesn't even think it's a big deal. The man-on-the-street commentary mocks her and tells her to raise the damn money and pay for the coffee if it's that important. And, finally, that photograph is perhaps not the most flattering shot of the day.

Perhaps the next time Lucy Vega is told no, she'll think twice before whining to a newspaper about it.

[supportRtroops]

I don't see why everyone is complaining about the lady who wanted coffee for her brother. He's over there serving OUR country... By the way DUNKIN DONUTS does donate coffee to our troops!!!!

The lady could have bought some coffee and sent it to her noble brother. She didn't have to bitch to everyone that companies aren't doing things she wants them to do.

Besides, you don't hear people bitching that McDonald's isn't sending over McNuggets to our troops.

supportRtroops is, as is the case with most people harping on this matter, sadly misinformed.

The Dunkin Donuts donation you speak of was the work of a franchise group in New Hampshire. In the summer of 2003, these franchise operators donated one and a half tons of coffee. This is commendable!

This wasn't any action on behalf of the Dunkin Donuts corporate parent (though they were more than happy to reap the benefits of feel-good PR by putting out a press release about it). This was a group of people who spent their own time and money to give that coffee to our troops. Much like many of the employees of Starbucks have done the same - to the tune of about 7 tons so far.

So you'll pardon me if the only response I give to emotional propaganda in this realm is a loud and obnoxious raspberry in your direction. PFFFFFFFT!

[Ian]

You think that's outrageous, listen to this! My poor brother and the troops in Iraq aren't even getting any cinammon-dusted, vanilla-cream filled french brioche from Jacques Patiserre. Those friggin bastards that runs that place, how dare he NOT SUPPORT OUR TROOPS?! I pledge to only eat croissants from Elaine's French Cafe for the entire week!!! Whose with me?!?!

[Craig]

How can someone feel that a corporation is required to give stuff away? What has she given away? Why not boycott Citibank because they are not sending money to the troops? Why not boycott Outback because they are not sending steaks to the troops? Where does this sense of entitlement come from?

Craig, she's a middle class California princess, raised by indulgent parents and likely paired to a dutiful husband very early on. The word NO isn't something she's used to hearing.

The few times she does hear the word NO, she likely throws a fit and is then given whatever it is she wanted, just to shut her up.

Starbucks said no, and didn't change their answer when she threw a tantrum, so now she's trying to get even.

Expect to see more of this type of behavior in the next few years, when the entitlement monsters a generation behind her approach adulthood.

[Stew]

This is just another individual abusing the media and trying to exploit a company.

[Jim]

I think the real issue is not the donation of coffee, it is whether or not Starbucks supports our troops, including its founders, board and executive committee. If Starbucks is taking a liberal cultural stance (and there are signs that it does), then people have a right to speak out against that stance and choose or not choose to purchase their products.

Most of the comments I read above are taking quite a childish and demeaning position of the woman, much like the liberal media did of conservatives before during and after the recent elections. Don't demean the lady just because she has chosen to speak out for the higher cause, support of our troops. She has as much right to speak out as you do. If she is too emotional and not factual, then the truth will speak for itself in the results.

[this space for rent]

Jim, no one said she didn't have a right to say anything. Of course she can say anything she wants. But you take away our right to mock her FROM OUR COLD DEAD HANDS!

Why does "not sending coffee to our troops" equal "does not support the troops" or "taking a liberal cultural stance"?

If you owned a company, would you make a decision that might drive away a good chunk of your customers? Starbucks is damned if they do, damned if they don't.

[Just Curious]

So, how long is it until Starbucks opens up in Bagdad?

Wow. So, apparently, not saying anything = liberal corporation.

Perhaps it's just me, but I really don't give a flip what a coffee peddler thinks about the war or our troops.

Funny you should mention that, Just Curious. Last summer, a private company associated with the war effort was making the rounds of the major American companies (including, I assume, Starbucks) trying to get them to open Baghdad branches. They wanted to have the look and feel of normalcy as quickly as possible.

So much for that. :)

[Marti]

WHAT THE HELL STARBUCKS,Send the troops some friggen coffee ya cheap $#@&% .... The majority of AMERICANS
who support the troops think you SUCK for refusing,,, I also refuse to buy your coffee now...they could have sent a hundred bucks worth of coffee and ended this before it started,, Oh well, thats how wars are started!

[Michelle]

Well..let's see, why should companies support our troops financially? How about because our troops give the protection for them to operate in a FREE market! They also protect us while we comfortably sit in front of our computers and critizize someone for asking a multi-billion dollar company to donate a little coffee. Get real! We're free because our troops are willing to give their lives for it, a little coffee or anything else they might want isn't too much to ask for!

[griff]

Looks like this woman is griping about nothing. Starbucks must have had this already in the works...

http://www.king5.com/business/stories/NW_110904WABstarbuckssoldiersSW.3e757416.html

KING5.com

Starbucks donates java to U.S. forces
12:14 PM PST on Tuesday, November 9, 2004

BELO

SEATTLE - The familiar Starbucks mermaid is moving to drier territory: the Iraqi desert.

A 50,000-pound donation of Starbucks coffee is en route for the enjoyment of U.S. forces in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan.

Service personnel have made Starbucks brand coffee a favorite request in family shipments from home.

So on Tuesday the company's new CEO announced the Red Cross will dispense the coffee to units serving in the Middle East.

"If you look at cups per pound, it's hundreds of thousands of cups that we'll be able to put across in this one first shot to our troops," said Jim Donald.

Starbucks says it's also preparing its first bid to sell the Pentagon coffee for all military installations.

[supportRtroops]

This is in regards to the Dunkin Donuts "press release" statement.... It isnt about what the New Hampshire franchise has done or what they are going to do for OUR troops.... I live in a small town and Its buisness is probably 80% from the military,So I know if you walk into one of our Dunkin Donuts Shops and ask for a donation of coffee, tea, or whatever you may need the owner is more than willing to help out!!!! He isnt doing it for the P.R. as you call it he is doing it for the soldiers who are oversea defending our country!!!! If you check more closely on the web site for Dunkin Donuts then you will see there is an address you can write to requesting a donation and they can also help you out and its not based in New Hampshire either! So for all you people out there who are gripping about the lady who spoke her mind, Its called FREEDOM of Speech...and that is what her brother is doing in Iraq right now fighting for our FREEDOM while you guys all sit back here and down grade someone who is trying to make a difference to the guys over there and give them something from home that they enjoyed!!! So PFFFFFFFT, right back at you!!!

[Lucy Vega]

I just want to thank those of you who are competent to understand the true meaning of my actions. It's not the coffee people, it's the verbal response that I received from the HR Dept. stating that they don't support our troops. I feel that some of you were seriously mistaken. I was not just asking for my brother, I was asking for enough to supply his Company. Which could have included your brother, dad, mother, family member or friend. For those of you that weren't paying attention ...that is my 19 yr old brother out there. Lcpl. Jimenez, Adrian 3rd Battalion 1st Marines Kilo CO. The baby of our family..yeah it doesn't faze him...honestly at this point, should he be worried about Starbucks supplying coffee or what all you inconsiderate people are saying or should he be more worried about watching his back. Why don't you trade places with him? So he can be home with us not giving a damn about you either!
It's okay if you want to just sit back and wait for someone like me to speak up so that you can criticize. Besides, look how far I have come. How ironic that Starbucks all of a sudden decided to participate! It was just meant to provide them with something from home away from home. Everyone loves Starbucks including me. I am sacrificing my cup for theirs and yes this is my choice. It's people like you the selfish who should be there, not soldiers who are giving their lives fighting for you...like my brother!!! Besides as long as I wasn't asking you.. what you worried about.

supportRtroops, you appear to be responding to a post you didn't actually read. Allow me to peel back the foreskin of ignorance and apply the wire brush of enlightenment.

First, the New Hampshire franchisees. Where, exactly, do you see me accusing the franchisees of doing the donation for a PR hit? You don't. You see me accusing the corporate parent of riding the coattails of an event they played no part in. The corporation did nothing to help this man in his effort, but they were more than happy to take the glory when the President came around to say "thanks" and claim it as their own. Do you not consider that despicable?

Also, bear in mind that Starbucks employees were doing the exact same thing, spending their own time and money to send coffee overseas - just like that Dunkin Donuts franchisee did. Why do you find it abhorrent that Starbucks employees do this, but not when Dunkin Donuts people do the same?

Finally, a word on the phrase "Freedom of Speech". You have used it several times, but I do not think you understand what that phrase means. It does not apply only speech that you agree with. It does not mean that others don't have the right to disagree, vocally and publicly. It also doesn't apply here (unless our indulgent host Mr. Romenesko and/or this blog have become affiliated with Congress when I wasn't looking). Your suggested reading: The Constitution and The Bill of Rights. It's a shame that someone as patriotic as you claim to be lacks a fundamental understanding of these documents.

As for you, Ms. Vega, if that is indeed you. The understanding around Starbucks HQ (or so I was told, since -- believe it or not -- I don't actually work for them, but I do live in Seattle and have several friends in HQ) is that the coffee was delivered to the Red Cross a day before your story broke in your local newspaper. You might want to ratchet back that ego a notch; you didn't do anything other than throw a fit. As I predicted earlier, it's possibly the only thing you're an expert at doing.

[Lucy]

Well as for you "the one who chooses to be nameless".
When i spoke with the rep from the corporate office she failed to mention that of the donation to the Red Cross.
As long as they can write-it-off I guess....You say, "throwing a fit"...oh please nameless...get over it. If that was in fact what was taking place, she at that time could have corrected me but, she didn't... why? because she couldn't! They had no plans at that time to donate anything!I spoke with her three days before the article in the paper, but of course you wouldn't know that because you are too busy yapping when you should be listening. You think your friends in HQ were really going to tell you everything. What makes you think that they are right! Is it because they are your friends...and you "trust" them? Or that they couldn't possibly be telling you a lie? They were already aware of what was going to happen. I had already fore warned her. I believe the only one with an ego trip here is you. Feeling a little cocky! I'm sure no one appreciates your dictating.

I don't suppose you noticed the shitstorm taking place over the preceding 8 months regarding the exact issue you're trying to crow about? Did Starbucks cave? You betcha. Were you the catalyst? Who are you kidding?

You got your ass spanked in that article, Lucy. Couldn't produce a single person to support your "boycott" and the reporter detested you so much that she couldn't be bothered to find (or print) anything from people who wouldn't mock you. You're a bitter little suburban princess who didn't get her way, and when someone dared to tell you that you still didn't get your way, you started shrieking like a calliope.

[MoralSupport]

When I was a wee one, I learned that if I asked for something and was told no, the proper response was to say "thank you for your time and consideration" and walk away. Not to start screaming accusations and making a scene.

This woman isn't just spoiled, it's just that no one ever taught her any manners. We should pity her.

[Jazer]

Boy, there is a lot of heat going on in here. First of all, I don't drink Coffee, but I do like to read these posts out here. Second, no one single person can change corporate policy, not even the Cheif Executive Officer (CEO). So anyone who thinks they were the sole person who got a company to change policy is, well conceited.

It took my company 3 years (which has more funds than Starbucks) to decide to donate money to employee's non-profit organizations. The employee must be participating at least 100 hours before they donate $65. Three Years to determine to give up a few thousand dollars. Any company who changes policy on a whim will go out of business fast. So, if Starbucks decided to donate coffee, it was something on their minds for over a year.

People can make rash decisions and recover quite well, not companies, especially large one.

See it from a company's point of view and see why they took so long.

JAZER

[GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS]

Boy, I do sense some tension in the air. "Why?" Please, "sympathy" don't do me any favors. The reporter happens to be a male and was very fair he simply reported the information he was given and researched. For the idiot who continues to assume that I am some princess. Yes I happen to be a princess from Salinas but in case that you were not aware this is no where near the suburbs. I happened to have received very much support...remember that we live in America where there are still people like yourselves who yes in fact are still trying to convince yourself that I am the problem. Well if that makes you feel better you are entitled to it. You people can whine and complain all you wish...it still does not change the outcome. So, maybe it was "in the works" that is all they would have had to say. I am not trying to claim victory for the donation from starbucks through the Red Cross...that happens when you receive a little bad PR but continue to say what you will about it. Mock me if you must! All I did was make people aware of something. I am not spoiled or perfect and never claimed to be..I in fact happen to have plenty of manners and I was also taught to speak up and not always let myself be spoken to..if you want to go about your business as if the world is great and there is not a damn thing wrong with it...again that is your choice and for those of you who take it upon yourself to pass judgement on me..you yourselves will one day be judged. Good luck to you!

"Nameless One".... When I mentioned the statement about Dunkin Donuts, I was not referring to any corporation, I was just stating that she could contact Dunkin Donuts... and ask them for a donation!!! You also mentioned that I used the statement of "freedom of speech" several times, please reread it and you will see that the it is only mentioned ONCE, thank you!!! Where do I lack.... My understanding is everyone is harping on the lady who asked for coffee and she went to the press with her issue...which is her right to, and the statement she has made against starbucks... was her constitutional "freedom of speech",.. I have no clue as to the issues about starbucks and the coffee neither one of were there and heard the conversation either, So you can assume what you want and ill keep on being supportive for our troops and for my man who is over there Iraq, while you degrade people on here... Why dont you do what "lucy" suggested and trade places with a soldier so the can be at home and you over there and see if you want something from home!!!!

The right to strongarm corporations out of coffee you cannot afford is not in the Bill of Rights, and neither is it a signing bonus for joining the armed forces.

Get over it, Lucy.

What does "signing a bonus" have to do with coffee??? Those men and women over there are fighting for what they believe in! So while you sit behind a desk and make comments about what people think, maybe you should rethink what you write!!!! Everyone is getting this whole coffee issue turned around. By the way what would happen if men still got drafted into the military not by choice and you were one of those guys, wouldnt you still want to have a cup of coffee, whether it is donated or bought "who cares" its not out of YOUR pocket!!!

LUCY'S not the one who should get over it, you should!!

[Drew]

Starbucks censorship? Starbucks in Wichita has apparently decided to ban a local indie newspaper because one issue had an upside-down U.S. flag on the cover and someone complained.

For what it's worth, Lucy, I highly doubt you spoke to someone in HR. I'm not trying to call you a liar, I'm just saying that you wouldn't have spoken to someone in HR at Starbucks headquarters. If you had, and they had given you that statement? They would have been talking out of their ass and not doing what they're supposed to do, which is direct you to Worldwide Public Affairs. maybe you meant PR.

As a Starbucks HR employee, I don't know why you would have been speaking to someone in that department about donating coffee - it makes no sense.

[Shift for Starbucks]

Lucy,
Even if Starbucks as a corp. wasn't sending coffee indivdual store were. Our store alone was sending our own partner markouts (free pounds of coffee) to troops and I know other stores were too. I live in Va. Beach a heavily military area and am married to a Navy man and am a Navy brat. I hardly could work for a company that didn't support our troops. I understand your plight but you could have just as easily gone to your local store and asked them to help your brother out. No offense but you put the company in a odd position asking them to take a certain stance on the war. Starbucks is a company and we serve all people not just those who believe in the war in Iraq. To be honest as noble as it would be they can't be expected to alienate customers by taking a vocal stance on the war. They did do it in a non vocal way by letting each store make it's own decision on how STORE donations are distributed. Sorry you are so peeved about this but Starbucks has employees to think about too and encouraging a boycott isn't going to help your brother it will only hurt Starbucks employees. Your brother isn't fazed by it and neither should you! Worry about getting your brother home safe just as I worry about my husband.

[Stew]

Lucy stop exploiting the media for your causes. Starbucks explained themselves long ago about their donation policies, and over the years store employees have donated coffee for troops all over the world. So don’t go saying we are a cold hearted company that does not support are country. I don’t see you doing anything else to support them, why aren’t you signing up for the military and support our country? Wait, you haven’t, so you must not support our troops and country. See how little things like that can be turned and used against you?

"When i spoke with the rep from the corporate office she failed to mention that of the donation to the Red Cross."

They don't have to mention it to you, its none of your damn business.

[Twidnet]

Sure, no one mentioned it to you - other than telling you that Starbucks doesn't support our troops, which is unlikely at best and at worst a complete misrepresentation of what you were actually told. Do you know why? It's none of your business, the person didn't know, or he announcement was to (properly) come from public relations, not HR. You whined and got your name in the paper. Goody for you. But your actions alone, plus all these mysterious people who "supported" your boycott but couldn't be bothered to say so in public, wasn't what made Starbucks do anything. And insulting people who disagree with you by suggesting they are somehow incompetent makes you look to me like a whiny little brat who couldn't stand the fact that you didn't instantly get what you were asking for. So don't try the entire uber-patriotic stance, because it isn't working.

[a barista]

The persistence of this rumor makes me so angry - it's nice to see that at least the more rational heads (and better grammatical skills) are prevailing in this discussion.

"Cultural stance" has absolutely nothing to do with the reason Starbucks can't directly donate coffee to the U.S. military. Starbucks Corporation is *not legally allowed* to donate products to any organization that isn't a specific type of non-profit. And the federal government doesn't meet that qualification.

As has been pointed out, even though the corporation isn't able to send coffee to the troops, many individual Starbucks employees, myself included, have done so.

Starbucks is now donating coffee to the American Red Cross - a non-profit charitable organization - which is in turn passing it on to troops stationed overseas. It undoubtedly took time to find a charity that qualified to receive the donation and to work out the logistics. This isn't a publicity stunt, and it certainly doesn't mean the company caved under the pressure of some reactionary trying to spread an urban legend.

[TOM]

THIS IS FOR ALL YOU PEOPLE (YES STEVEN)THAT BELIEVE IN THIS.STARBUCKS PLACED THIS WEB SITE. I HAVE SENT IN 3 COMMENTS AND ALL 3 HAVE BEEN DELEATED. SO KEEP READING ON BECAUSE THEY WILL ONLY PRINT POSSITIVE THINGS ABOUT
THEIR COMPANY.SO ANYTHING YOU'VE READ THROUGH THIS WEB SIGHT ARE FISHY.THEY ONLY PRINT WHAT YOU WANT TO READ.
DO NOT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ.

I know who Jim Romenesko is. Apparently, "Tom" does not. Giggle!

[coffee Ned]

Hey, I know Jim Romenesko also! He is notorious. He once worked for Starbucks in the Twin Cities, and then moved to ... wait, that's not right. He DRANK A LOT OF COFFEE, that's it, and drank extra extra large amounts when he was writing ON DEADLINE! Then he moved, and continued the SAME BEHAVIOR.

He started a blog, and then ANOTHER blog and then ...THIS blog. OMG. He is INSANE.

Anyway, I have a suggestion. Let's forget about Starbucks, and sending coffee to the troops, and whether Starbucks supports the troops. They are, after all, a heartless, merciless corporation. And, as has been pointed out, we could argue that CitiBank should send the troops money, Honda should send SUVs, Green Giant should send Niblets corn, Hebrew National should send hot dogs, and so forth and on and on. There lies madness!!

I PROPOSE THIS ALTERNATIVE: let us each decide whether we will send $1 to the troops! I will NOT send $1, so go on, dump on me! (I will, instead, write to my U.S. senators and my congress person, asking that military pay be increased.) If you WILL send $1, then you can explain why you are good and true and why you love the troops. If you DO NOT want to send $1, then you can try to justify your existence. GOOD LUCK, EVERYONE.

[hateUhateU]

Whoa. This is good. I will definitely send $1 to the troops. Where do I mail the $$? How about International Red Cross, Baghdad, Iraq? ATTN: $1 for troops. I will enclose this note: (feel free to copy) "I am enclosing $1 for the U.S. troops in Iraq, or for U.S. soldiers wounded in Iraq. Please distribute this money, as a direct cash donation, as best you are able. Thank you." I will then include my real name and address and phone number, just to allay any suspicion or uncertainty on the part of the authorities.

HEY! I am a patriot. I am a good person. I am getting a lot of mileage out of my $1. But if everyone sent $1 a week, that might be 30-40 thousand dollars a week. We have 140,000 or so troops in Iraq, so that would be a couple of bucks a week -- a nice tangible expression of thanks. If more of us joined in, it could get to be $5/week or more.

You crapheads out there who won't pay your fair share, you should be ashamed. Screw you all. I hope the Iraqi terrorists come and behead your sisters or brothers or parents. I hope Saddam Hussein escapes and sneaks into Canada and comes down to the U.S. and climbs in your flipping window and beats you senseless with a golf club or a baseball bat. I hate you people.

[hateUhateU]

I'm sorry. I realize that I did the arithmetic wrong on the money. 30-40 thousand dollars a week, given to 140,000 troops, would not be a couple of dollars each per week. It would be ...less. Maybe 25 cents or so. But it would still be a nice gesture.

[d]

Stew's comment is the best one in the thread. Stew said more in that small post than anyone writing paragraph after paragraph was able to do. That said, the whole genre of equivocating actions like those of Starbucks to "not supporting the troops" is getting out of hand. Lucy's well-intentioned but severely misguided mindset (which i can only speculate about) that people who disagree with her "don't support the troops" drives me batsh*t crazy. she and all of the other people who have taken this phrase hostage have altered the term "support" forever. sure, Lucy's isn't more egregious example, but it got me to post just to state my view. screw coffee, how about showing support by getting them body armor?

"Yes I happen to be a princess from Salinas but in case that you were not aware this is no where near the suburbs."

You're so right. "Barrio backwater" fits it much better.

[Kenneth]

lets see here, the brother in Iraq wanted his sister to send him starbucks coffee. Instead of her sending it out of her own pocket, she tried to get Starbucks to donate it. Sounds to me like she Doesent support her own brother.Why couldnt she buy some and send it to her brother instead of making such a big deal out of it. I wonder why she so tight ....Theres not much of a story here except to say the sister didnt want to spend noneof here own money.

[Jonas M Luster]

> Those men and women over there are fighting for what
> they believe in! So while you sit behind a desk and make

Actually, not everyone in Iraq fights in a war he or she believes in. And it makes no difference. What you, dear anonymous coward, insinuate here, is the fact that somehow corporate entities must be held responsible to the decisions of politicians. And that's just plain wrong. I am not sure which theatre you've seen, but the wars I had the dubious luck to be in, had civilian contractors get rich by reaping billions from the government and giving little in terms of food and drinks to the soldiers. If there should be a recipient of your scorn, then why not start with this Administration's no-bid contracts to Haliburton and Co., and force them to use some of that embezzled money to bring Starbucks, or Peets, or Folgers to the troops. What you are saying here, is "the ones responsible to support our troops in the first place don't do so, so I am whining until a decentralized support network does their job".

> comments about what people think, maybe you should
> rethink what you write!!!! Everyone is getting this
> whole coffee issue turned around. By the way what

It's not only coffee. Kevlar, chewing gum, sanitary pads, underwear, Brita filters, radios, rubber strings, condoms, to name just a few, are hard to get by items in this war. Supporting ones troops means, first and foremost, to hold the chain of command accountable to using resources in a conducive manner. And, of course, to organize grassroots efforts, as well. I am retired, so my contribution is no longer on the field, but I, too, can collect money and goods to send to the troops. Which I do. And by which I basically validate the current approach to this issue, which is an Administration relying on nameless zealots like you, to guilt trip people like me into doing its job while lending credence to the men and women who sent our troops there and their claims that all is well. All is not well if one needs to ask Starbucks to send coffee.

> you still want to have a cup of coffee, whether it is
> donated or bought "who cares" its not out of YOUR
> pocket!!!

There is coffee in Iraq. It sucks. It's not Starbucks. It's not even "bad cantina". It's really bad. It costs US taxpayers a dollar and four cents a cup, which is more than it'd cost Starbucks to make good coffee, but it's there. The 97 cents overhead, KBR makes with cheap coffee being sold expensively to our troops, goes into their pocket. Not yours, not mine, not into our deficit, it goes into the hands of the very people you need to yell at some, maybe they'll actually do something about it.

It can't be a soldier's job to suffer for corporate interests, it can't be my job to justify corporate greed by taking up KBRs responsibilities, and it can't be your job to tell someone who put his six in harms way for your freedoms, what he's supposed to do now.

Careful, Jonas. This crowd gets violent when you make them think too hard.

[Patsy]

wow so much anger over this Starbuck issue.It's over now get over it and go back to your business. I hope that Lucys brother does come back home in one piece and that he was able to have one good cup of coffee after a hard day at war, and will be able to talk about it. MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND BLESS ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE FIGHTING FOR OUR COUNTRY.

[LucyInTheSky]

I love the number of times I've seen people demand that others get back to their business in this thread. It's almost got a panicky tone to it. Almost. :)

[Old News]

Last year Starbucks supported the guys in Afghanistan bigtime: http://www.boycottwatch.org/misc/starbucks4.htm here's another article by the Washington Post on it http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A43007-2004Jan23¬Found=true

[Michael]

I think we should stop forcing government to tax us to death to buy coffee for our troops when we could be making drug companies and defense companies and energy companies and others who make a living off the war to pay for Starbucks coffee and other desert "delicassies" for our beloved troops. It is the big companies that should be shouldering the burden of this war not the everyday people.

"It is the big companies that should be shouldering the burden of this war not the everyday people."

I agree. Let's make the big companies pay! What's that? All of a sudden the cost of everything we buy has doubled? How the heck did that happen?

[Andrew, a Charlotte barista]

In all honesty, I hadn't heard about this issue until this morning. My mother told me that someone in her community college class had heard about this rumor. In fact, that girl's father has forbidden her from going to Starbucks in the future. My mother had her doubts about the rumor, especially with her knowledge of Starbucks' extensive unadvertised efforts to support not only numerous charities and non-profits all over the country (since Sept. this year we've helped Race for the Cure, a book donation group, and we're collecting Christmas toy donations) but also to make the lives of the people who cultivate and harvest the beans we buy better by establishing fair-trade agreements. Starbucks has given the indigenous peoples of these countries guaranteed wages and job benefits such as insurance and health care. Plus, they have a guaranteed buyer in "the world's foremost purveyor of coffee" (this aspiration quoted from Starbucks' mission statement).
So I got online to research this rumor, and as a result, I found this page. I am impressed by the emotional response many have had to this issue, which really goes to show that this debate isn't about Starbucks at all. We are all arguing about war, and in particular, whether that war (which has cost us all on both sides of the argument so much) is justified.
So take a second, everyone, and breathe. Then I want you all to agree that war is a terrible thing (it is, plain and simple), but we should certainly be thankful that those of us at home today are not fighting it ourselves. That, I think, is the true wish of those who ask us to support the troops. Whether you believe our armed forces belong in Iraq or not, the decision to send them there has not been made by you. And you should be thankful to the people who volunteered their lives to go there so that you and I don't have to.
That said, I hadn't really thought deeply about my own feelings on this issue until now. And it still has not changed my feelings that the war is an unjust one. It has, however, given me a newfound respect for the soldiers. Thanks to you, Jonas, for a particularly enlightening post.

[charlie]

The troops do not support our freedom nor defend our country. They are nothing more than Imperialist death troopers who are taming the feminized land of the Orient so they can set up more big-dicked corporate shit holes like Starbucks and McDonalds. Fuck the troops and the war in Iraq. Read America's Shadow by William V. Spanos. goodnight.

-charlie

Whoopsie there, Charlie. You got a little spittle on your chin. Here, have a tissue.

[Irene]

Lucy....I hate that you are being attacked for this. I do not care if anyone attacks me for saying what I need to say. These nameless "folks" are apparently very educated, intelligent, self thinking individuals . They write so eloquently. Ok, I put down my dictionary and put together some thoughts.

I give generously to many causes. A note was dropped in my mailbox yesterday from a neighbor whose friend is in Iraq. They are putting some boxes together for Christmas for him and his comrades. They were asking for a few particular items like phone cards, Christmas music and Christmas candy believe it or not. I was not insulted by the request. I am happy to do it. While I was at BJ's yesterday, I asked my 4 year old son to pull an "Angel" off the tree so we can get a gift for a kid whose Christmas may be a little lackluster this year. When my son asked the inevitable "why" I simply said because life is more about giving than receiving. That's all he needs to know...not just at Christmas time but all of the time. When the towers fell (I live on Long Island), I filled a cart of some needed items for the people working (for free ) to help recover, assist, clean up. When my kid hops for as long as he can for a Muscular Dystrophe hop-a-thon, I throw $10 in an envelope, etc,etc,etc. I am not bragging about it. It is just what we do. I am not a terribly religious person, but I do believe I will receive what I give in this life. God, I already am getting it back....I am rewarded every time my son offers to share his candy and when he makes a card for someone's birthday, when he says he's thankful for his friends and family. He knows what it important in life and it is not by yelling it at him, he learned it by living it.

I don't know why people are so angry. Here on Long Island,we pay some of the highest taxes in the nation ($6000-$7000) for a modest home. We also have utility bills that that you'd faint over. Point is I don't have a lot left over to be spreading it out, but we just do.
Lucy, I am grateful that your brother is so brave and among those who also believe that making a difference is worth sacrifice. I don't know how you and your family cope knowing that his service and sacrifice goes truly ungrateful by some. There are more like us than them...Thank God!

So scholars, attack if you must, I don't take it personal, and I certainly will not "spit"back at you.

Have a good day.

Lucy's actions appalled me. Here's why.

About ten years ago, I worked as a donation coordinator for a Bay Area nonprofit. It was my job to go into the community and ask businesses for donations to support our clients. With a good local reputation, many local companies and individuals were happy to help.

Sometimes people said no. As an established organization of some size and age and -- as our founder put it -- we were "powered by people" and some of those people did stupid things over the years, resulting in a definitive division of opinion on us. Sometimes I woud not only hear no, I would hear a litany of reasons as to why that person was saying no.

No matter what, I would thank them for taking the time to speak with me, and continue on in my day.

I simply cannot begin to fathom the selfishness and self-centeredness that would cause someone gathering a donation to seek out a newspaper of record and attack an organization for turning down a request. This is what makes it appear that Lucy's actions were not selfless, but rather, she was nursing a bruised ego because someone told her no. It wasn't about the troops at that point, it was all about her.

While I'm glad that troops received some coffee from Starbucks, I am appalled and disappointed by one woman's behavior in pursuit of that goal. Ultimately, this type of behavior will only hurt others who seek donations. Attack enough companies and they won't say no anymore -- they won't even give you the time of day to make the request in the first place.

[shannon]

I was in Iraq and we did drink coffee. I don't care what kind I drink, but do like foldgers the best. When it is that hot, 156 the hottest I was there for, coffee isn't going to make you any hotter.

[Alisha Kalina]

Hi All...I see we have some issues on the whole Starbucks supporting our troops and the war. You know, I am a military wife who's husband just returned and of course I am very supportive of our troops and the war.
My stance on this issue is that I understand where the lady is coming from but I don't exactly agree with everything. A person will either support or not support, you cannot expect a company to do something that you want. You can politely ask and if they say no, then so be it. You will always have your beliefs but not everyone will agree, that is freedom of speech. Everyone has a right to say how they feel. Trust me, I have been through all of this, luckily though, just by me saying my husband is serving our country a lot of people have come to me wanting to help out. I don't go to anyone, let them approach you. There are a lot of people out there that don't support our troops but that is their choice. Just because a company tells you that they will not donate does not mean that they do not support what are military men are doing. They show it in different ways.
This is a very hard subject for me to deal with, my husband has been taken from me so many times for this war but I will constantly support every reason behind it. Come on everyone, this is something that should be argued about, you choose your own issues, you can't change people and their choices!
I love Starbucks and I love the military, The issue with Starbucks won't make me change my beliefs!!

[one10soldier]

I am a Soldier serving overseas. I did not ask for this assignment, nor did I question the reason behind it. For those that support us... Thank you. For those that do not, you are entitled to your opinion... Many of us have died to give you that right.. Freedom is not free...

Why dont all of you get together, grow some coffee, send it all over the world and become righteous humanitarians. While your at it, grow some wheat and hops, feed the world with bread and get drunk. your already waisting your time bitching about it....while your at it, send me some free coffee, I'll sell it and give the money to the poor kids who pick the coffee in the first place. How is the world going to be a brighter place, unless you get off your potato munching,
coke drinking, walmart buying, selfish ass.
drink water instead.

[f]

What are people thinking?
Most of our boys and girls that are over seas joined the military BEFORE the war started. Why should they be penalized and not supported because they are willing to lose there lifes for OUR country. I don't care if you are for or against the war, YOU should be glad that there are people out there willing to die for the freedoms and rights of our country. We didn't support our vietnam vets and look what happen to those boys when they came home. We just be GREATFUL there are people out there willing to fight for our country ... JUST BECAUSE YOU DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE WAR YOU SHOULD NOT HOLD IT AGAINST OUR TROOPS WHO ARE JUST FOLLOWINF OUR PRESIDENTS ORDER, BUT THE HAVE DECIDED TO PUT THEIR LIFES AT RISK TO PROTECT OUR - YOURS TO - YOU LIVE HERE- COUNTRY

I believe they are missing the point, coffee has nothing to do with it. Had the company denied the donation because it was not financially feasible no one could have argued. Even not supporting the war can be respected, but it is the point that they stated they do not support the troops that is absolutely unacceptable.

[Layla]

We had a woman come up to our little licensed store kiosk, and she basically let us have it because Starbucks refused to "support the troops", I was a little upset that she was taking this out on me and my co-worker, but as a barista you just have to give a little smile and nod, she said she would never buy Starbucks again after tonight, and then she bought a latte...I'm sure I'll see her next week.

[robert heend]

Bet you www.gameznflix.com supports the troops

[Baristababe5371]

In our district, we donated 1,500 pounds to send over seas during the holidays.

This is up to individual leadership at the store, district, region and division level.

A store in my district started asking people to buy pounds of coffee to send overseas, in turn they recieved a free beverage.

It became so popular, we had a specific day set aside in our region to collect coffee, and ended up such high numbers that the Red Cross opted out of the shipping deal we had with them, and we had to go through alternate routes.

[nicki]

its fine to be ant-war and ani-bush, but why should the troops suffer for your beliefs? they didnt ask to go over there and leave there families behind. my husband certainly didnt want to leave his newborn daughter to fight for a cause he doesnt believe in. but thats the sacrafice for freedom. what have you done lately to deserve your freedom? make money off our country and then give us the finger.

[Jay Cook]

Ok...some people seem to be missing the point. Military peronnel VOLUNTEER to defend this country. Here you have a business that enjoys our free market system, and is making an unbelievable profit....yet they will not donate coffee to the people who are responsible for the free society we live in. That is hypocritical, if you are that against war then shutdown your company and don't take advantage of the freedoms this country has fought for.

What the hell ever happened to looking at Soldiers as "Our boys and gals"?. Damn you people need to get a clue.

[cindy]

Jay Cook,
Why don't you get a clue and do a little research before you spout off at the mouth about things you obviously know nothing about. That is a rumor, Starbucks supports its troops, do your research. www.snopes.com Go back under your rock, will you?

[murf]

well, I think at this point, research is almost pointless in this matter,although thats why I came to this site. It seems like everything else, who do you believe, which web site, which news affiliate, which book, which newspaper? I'm just one of those people that really want to make informed decisions by researching but I find it more and more difficult in this age of Mass Media. I do however think that for what ever reason something was said that led her to belive Starbucks didn't support the TROOPS, not the war and she isn't mad because they didn't send coffee, she could have sent the coffee. Its the priciple of supporting our troops or not. And whether anyone agrees, it was her right to bring it to the view of the public.

[Christine]

nice work!

[MISTY IN TN]

HERE IS THE THING OUR MILITARY PROVIDES THE BLANKET OF FREEDOM UNDER WITCH STARBUCKS CAN EVEN EXIST. THEREFORE STARBUCKS OR ANY COMPANY THAT THEY REQUEST SUCH A SMALL THING FROM SHOULD BE HONORED. WITHOUT THEM WE WOULD NOT EXIST AS WE DO. WE MAY NEED WORK AS A COUNTRY THE FORST THING IS SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS WE MAY NOT AGREE WITH THE WAR, BUT THEY ARE ONLY DOING WHAT THEY ARE TOLD TO DO.

[Abbie]

I agree with a comment I read above, this is not an issue of Starbucks sending coffee or not, it's an issue of supporting our troops! For those of you who don't support them, get your lazy ass' over there and fight for your own freedom... then when you write asking for coffee we'll tell you off like abunch of arrogent, self centered assholes. How can people be so horrible???? Remember when you were a kid and your parents always tell you to stick up for your family or your friends when people are picking on them? Well America is being picked on! And the troops consider us friends and family... and you just sit back and let them have it aswell! What the hell is wrong with this world! When starbucks or anybody else wants to grow a pair and go over there and fight for people you dont even know, then we'll listen to you bitch

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[Abbie]

that made no sense buddy

[Lauren]

Ok,
I am a former Starbucks employee, and I know that they donate coffee to the troops. The starbucks that I worked at up until yesterday, has a box that you can buy and donate coffee to our troops.
They also suggested that you write a message on the bag to the troops. So, before anyone starts getting all worked up over nothing, just know that Starbucks does and always has supported our troops.