Hoax: Starbucks Denies Marines Coffee

drivingrl

http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/starbucks.asp

My dad will be so dissapointed that this isn't true. I'll just boycott Starbucks anyway.

I can't copy and paste the information from snopes.com, but here is another source I found:

http://suvalleynews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=331

Opinion/Editorial: Starbucks denies troops coffee
Posted on Tuesday, January 24 @ 20:15:05 EST by susitna

Recently Marines in Iraq wrote to Starbucks because they wanted to let
them know how much they liked their coffee and to request that they send some of it to the troops there.

Starbucks replied, telling the Marines thank you for their support of their business, but that Starbucks does not support the war, nor anyone in it, and that they would not send the troops their brand of coffee.

So as not to offend Starbucks, maybe we should not support them by buying
any of their products!

As a war vet writing to fellow patriots, I feel we should get this out in
the open. I know this war might not be very popular with some folks, but
that doesn't mean we don't support the boys on the ground fighting
street-to-street and house-to-house for what they and I believe is right.

If you feel the same as I do then pass this along, or you can discard it
and no one will never know.

Thanks very much for your support. I know you'll all be there again when I
deploy once more.

"Semper Fidelis."
Sgt Howard C. Wright
1st Force Recon Co
1st Plt PLT

[Editors Note: This was submitted via email by a Marine, and we are waiting on further information from Starbucks and the Marines to verify the claim]

This is an interesting story from defenselink.mil:

"The coffee giant Starbucks and the American Red Cross are teaming up to deliver hot java to U.S. servicemembers serving overseas in the war against global terrorism.
Starbucks Chief Executive Officer Jim Donald said during a Capitol Hill press conference today in the office of U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks that his company would provide 50,000 pounds of free, whole-bean coffee that will be brewed and distributed by Red Cross workers to troops serving in Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq."



[UPDATE: we have just been advised of the 'rest of the story']

Dear Fred,

Thank you for taking the time to contact Starbucks regarding coffee donations to those serving in our armed forces.

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, which I've included at the end of this e-mail.

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, California 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.

Thank you again for writing. We ask you to accept our deepest appreciation to servicemen and women and hope you remain a valued Starbucks customer. If you have any additional feedback or would like to discuss this further, please feel free to contact us at (800) 235-2883 or email us at info@starbucks.com.

Sincerely,

Matthew
Customer Relations Representative
Starbucks Coffee Company

Text of Sgt. Wright's Email:

Dear Readers,

Almost 5 months ago I sent an e-mail to you my faithful friends. I did a wrong thing that needs to be cleared up. I heard by word of mouth about how Starbucks said they didn't support the war and all. I was having enough of that kind of talk and didn't do my research properly like I should have. This is not true. Starbucks supports men and women in uniform. They have personally contacted me and I have been sent many copies of their company's policy on this issue. So I apologize for this quick and wrong letter that I sent out to you.

Now I ask that you all pass this email around to everyone you passed the last one to. Thank you very much for understanding about this.

Howard C. Wright
Sgt USMC
1st Force Rcon Co
1st Plt PLT RTO

NOCODE#1

chiefojibwa wrote:

i avoid starbucks like the fucking plague anyway. the people that go in there everyday act like their shit don't stink, and besides we have a much better local coffeeshop in my town. in my opinion, the only reason to go to starbucks is if you're traveling and you can't find a good local place.

yea arizona knows coffee :rolleyes:


there should be a dress code at starbucks

too many hicks going in round my town

MrBrian

well look at that, now I dislike starbucks even more.

bootlegger10

chiefojibwa wrote:

i avoid starbucks like the fucking plague anyway. the people that go in there everyday act like their shit don't stink, and besides we have a much better local coffeeshop in my town. in my opinion, the only reason to go to starbucks is if you're traveling and you can't find a good local place.

Actually, I believe it is the exact opposite. I think people like you who judge other people because "gasp" all they want is a damn cup of coffee and aren't trying to make some political statement at the same time, are the ones who think their shit don't stink. Look how you judge them just because they get a cup of coffee at a chain.

Is your computer screen attached to your ceiling so that you can read it with your nose so high in the air?

binauralsounds

So let me get this right... Starbucks won't donate coffee personally? What a shitty company. Like it would bankrupt them to help some men and women out over there.
I go to starbucks, but now need to hit other shops in town. F them!

Abookamongstthemany

chiefojibwa wrote:

i avoid starbucks like the fucking plague anyway. the people that go in there everyday act like their shit don't stink, and besides we have a much better local coffeeshop in my town. in my opinion, the only reason to go to starbucks is if you're traveling and you can't find a good local place.

Exactly! The local spots are always the best. One of the local shops in my area has a sticker by the door that reads: 'Friends don't let friends drink Starbucks.'

gabers

I like to support my local coffehouse like the next person, but unfortunately there aren't too many in my neck of the woods. I think there are many other companies you could focus your efforts on hating than Starbucks. At least they make some efforts to be socially responsible. Their cups have some recylceable material, they don't use styrofoam, they sell fair trade coffee, they use profits for their bottled water sales for a worthy cause. Seriously, what's the big beef here?

ryan198

gabers wrote:

I like to support my local coffehouse like the next person, but unfortunately there aren't too many in my neck of the woods. I think there are many other companies you could focus your efforts on hating than Starbucks. At least they make some efforts to be socially responsible. Their cups have some recylceable material, they don't use styrofoam, they sell fair trade coffee, they use profits for their bottled water sales for a worthy cause. Seriously, what's the big beef here?

Starbucks is not fair trade.

RavennaSeattle1911

chiefojibwa wrote:

i avoid starbucks like the fucking plague anyway. the people that go in there everyday act like their shit don't stink, and besides we have a much better local coffeeshop in my town. in my opinion, the only reason to go to starbucks is if you're traveling and you can't find a good local place.

starbucks ive been to are pretty arrogant -the workers and customers

the head or owner of starbucks is an israli, not that thats bad, but i think he supports the israli army in all actions in lebanon etc but im not really sure he does -maybe not-ill have to research it more

stabucks in usa at least uses milk with monsanto bovine growth hormone milk -that is pretty cheap and sleezy

theres better places than starbucks

RavennaSeattle1911

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starbucks

http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/news/hits/030409ap.htm