For Immediate Release Me

Media Contact: Brittany Catton

. San Diego Armed Services YMCA
(858) 751-5755 ext. 103
San Diego Starbucks donate 3,000 pounds of Coffee to San Diego Armed bcatton@asymcasd.org
Services YMCA for Troops Overseas

Who: San Diego Starbucks Locations, and the San Diego Armed Services YMCA

When: Store collection December 15th -31st. ASYMCA receives coffee January 4th. Coffee Distribution to military
January 7th-11th.

Where: San Diego Armed Services YMCA Headquarters

3293 Santo Rd, San Diego, CA, 92124.

San Diego–During the last two weeks of December, San Diego Starbucks locations have been collecting coffee as
part of their “ Coffee for the Troops” program as part of their Pass the Cheer Holiday promotion.
Over 3,000 pounds of coffee was collected and donated by San Diego Starbuck’s and their Patrons to the San Diego
Armed Services YMCA to distribute to San Diego military units deployed. Units receiving coffee include the USS Nimitz, 11
XRAY Army Unit, 89 Delta Army Unit, 89 Bravo Army Unit, 31 Bravo Army Unit, the USS Vandergrift, USS McClusky,
HS- 6 Helicopter squadron, the Expeditionary Strike Group 3, Camp Pendleton Units and many more. Colonel Christopher
O’Conner, the Commanding Officer of MCAS Miramar Marine base, stopped by the ASYMCA during the morning of
January 10th to help load coffee for his Marines.
Starbucks District- wide held contests as to who could sell the most Coffee for the Troops. The Mission Valley
District alone helped raise over 1,117 pounds with the help of Marine Reservist Starbucks employee, Gilbert Gaona, who
traveled to various stores in his uniform to promote the program. Gaona was deployed to Iraq as force protection from 2005
to 2006. Gaona understands the value of good coffee, “I can assure you how much Starbucks Coffee means to an exhausted
Marine pulling double duties. To you it may be just a cup of coffee, but this will help keep the troops alert and help them
come home safe.” The San Diego Armed Services YMCA is packed to the ceiling with coffee and is excited to distribute it
to ships and units deployed.

The San Diego Armed Services YMCA was founded in 1920 and serves 6,000 San Diego junior-enlisted military
service members and their families EACH MONTH with an assortment of absolutely free programs, including
confidential counseling and other social services. All military families can take advantage of our services such as free
photo quilts for children of deploying service members, confidential in-home counseling with social workers including
emergency assistance (limited access to commissary or gas cards), Mom & Tots programs, Operation Hero, a walking group,
and active-duty volunteer opportunities. The ASYMCA also does patient recreation at Balboa Hospital, and offers 35 other
free programs through our various departments. No membership or dues required and is absolutely free to military and their
families. Please visit www.militaryymca.org to see how you can help San Diego military families.

###