Like a popular slogan hints to, America certainly does run on coffee. The overall retail value of the U.S. coffee market is estimated to be $48 billion, with specialty coffee blends accounting for roughly 55% (and growing).
Now, following a nationwide outpouring of support for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), coffee lovers can support the organization simply by drinking a cup of coffee.
Across the country, hundreds of coffee shops are participating in a charity event to support the ACLU as the organization continues its fight in court against President Donald Trump’s temporary travel ban. During the first week of February, the ACLU had already raised $24 million, and that was before the coffee donation drive started.
Spurge reports that California-based Peet’s Coffee and Tea set the tone for the donations, as the organization agreed to match 50 coffee companies with a donation of $25,000.
“Given everything [that’s] going on, we wanted to reaffirm to all Peetniks our values and beliefs as a company and allay any fears they have about the future,” said Dave Burwick, CEO of Peet’s Coffee and Tea. “Our Peet’s family is made up of a vibrant mix of individuals from many walks of life, beliefs and backgrounds — including 25 countries from around the world where we source coffee and have established relationships based on trust and respect for different people and cultures.”
Locally, a total of five Arizona coffee shops are joining the nationwide donation effort to assist the ACLU.
AZ Family reports that Provision Coffee, one of the Arizona-based organizations, donated 10% of its entire weekend sales to the civil rights nonprofit.
“I think anytime you’re doing anything in unity across the nation I think that has an added appeal to it,” said Provision Coffee’s Dan Suh. “I think that at the end of the day we wanted to help support refugees and immigrants.”
A total of 862 coffee shops from across the country have currently raised more than $423,000 for the ACLU so far.