A Cup Of Joe For A Joe - Can You Spare $2?

The Green Beans Coffee Company is headquartered in Larkspur, California.  They've been in business since 1996, and they own and operate 70+ cafes in North America and at military bases in Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Kyrgystan, Oman, United Arab Emirates, and Dijouti East Africa.  Many of their cafes are at operating bases where extreme danger is ever present and they have few amenities.

In early 2009, Cup Of Joe For A Joe began as a way for Americans to say thanks to the Troops by purchasing a cup of freshly brewed coffee, writing a personal letter of encouragement to go with it, and having both of them delivered into the hands of a Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine or Coast Guardsman who is serving far from home.

The letters are sent via email and freshly brewed coffee is served at the Green Beans Coffee cafes on bases where the troops are deployed.  When they receive your cup of coffee, Green Beans offers them a way to say thank you (if they wish to do so) and let you know how they're doing.  Their letters are then delivered to you via email.

Here's how it works.  When Green Beans receives contributions from people they use a random process to assign the Cup of Joe gifts to the Troops.  They send them an email notice telling them that they have received a Cup of Joe from you, including the letter you wrote.  They then give the Service Member an opportunity to write back to you and register their COJ for pick up at the cafe on their base.

Deciding who receives the Cup of Joe works like this: Thousands of deployed Troops are enrolled to participate at or near bases in the countries I've mentioned.  The COJ program uses a complex computer algorithm to distribute the COJ's and it is designed to spread out the COJ gifts to as many Troops in as many countries as possible.  Their goal is simple...to provide every Service Member, who signs up, with a freshly brewed cup of coffee.

Currently, there is no way to send a Cup of Joe to a specific Service Member.  However, if you know a specific member, you can give them a Green Beans COFFEE CARD (like a gift certificate).  You can order a Coffee Card online at their website and they will deliver it to your recipient at the Green Beans cafe at their base.  They're generally ready to pick up within a few hours of placing your order.  You also have the option to include a gift message or letter when you purchase your Coffee Card.

When you order a Cup Of Joe For A Joe, there is a small check box next to where you write your letter that accompanies your coffee, which asks if they may include your email address to the Service member(s) who receives your gift.  If they opt to do so, their email address will be sent back to you so you can begin your correspondence directly with them.

Each Cup Of Joe is valued at $2.  Therefore, every $2 contribution buys a cup of coffee for a different Service Member.  For example, if you contribute $10 to COJ, you will send a Cup Of Joe to five different Troops.  Each Troop will also receive the letter you write and they will each be given a way to write back to you if they wish to do so.

There is much more information on their website at www.greenbeanscoffee.com which can provide you with other ways to get involved.  A portion of each sale they make is donated to the following charities: TAPS, Soldiers' Angels and Children of the Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund.

Isn't this a beautiful way to say thank you to our troops?  For a mere $2 you can send someone serving our country, a hot cup of coffee and a note of cheer or thanks!  This can be done from the comfort of your own home, at any hour of the day or night.  So...come on!  What're you waiting for?  Send that coffee now.  Let one of our own Troops know you're thinking of them this holiday season.  It will mean the world to them.

As always....live an inspired and patriotic week!