Stronger communities start with us

By Emma Peterson. 

The Coffee Shops™ crew has launched a nationwide food drive to support local communities.  

At The Coffee Shops™, we believe strong communities are built when we show up for one another. That’s why our crew is coming together across the U.S. to collect pantry staples and supplies for local food banks and organizations.  

These organizations provide crucial support to our neighbors in need. Food insecurity remains a top issue in the U.S., with the 2024 USDA Household Food Security report finding that:  

1 in 7 households (13.7 percent) in America experienced food insecurity, or lack of access to an affordable, nutritious diet [and] 14.1 million children lived in households that experienced food insecurity in 2024, a slight increase from the 13.8 million children reported in 2023. 

These numbers are sobering, but not insurmountable. Things like SNAP benefits and food banks are key to helping overcome the food security crisis in the U.S. As Dr. Edward Simmer, who was South Carolina’s interim Department of Public Health director in 2025 explained, “The hundreds of food banks and pantries that operate across the state and every resident who donates to their efforts, whether that be a donation of food, money or time [are crucial]. Food banks do more than feed the hungry; they nourish hope and dignity, and strengthen our communities.” 

It is this goal that inspired The Coffee Shops crew to organize our own food drive. And you can be a part of it! As we have crew members all over the country, we are running part of our food drive online. Joining the food drive is as simple as going to our Amazon wishlists and picking a few items to send to a food bank!  

Some of the benefitting food banks and pantries for our drive include: 

• Friends in Service to Humanity in Vancouver, Washington 
• Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Central Texas in Austin, Texas 
• Casa San Miguel Food Pantry in Albuquerque, New Mexico 
• Arkansas Food Bank in Little Rock, Arkansas 
• Center on Halstead in Chicago, Illinois  

To say thank you, we’re also offering some fun incentives! The top three donors will receive a free classified ad on a Coffee Shop site of their choice, and the top overall donor will be featured on our Stories from the Roof podcast.  

Want to see your gift in action? Follow us on social media! We’ll be posting updates as we collect supplies and drop them off. Remember, even a donation that seems small to you can make a big impact for neighbors facing food insecurity.  

If you’re interested in donating, you can find more information and a link to our Amazon wishlists here.