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Community Coffee Company Presents The Salvation Army with a $250,000 Check for Emergency Disaster Relief

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New Orleans, Louisiana (February 14, 2022)- Community Coffee Company presented The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) with a check for $250,000 today to expand their emergency response fleet for future disaster relief efforts. EDS has allocated the funds to purchase three van emergency response vehicles (VRUs) for New Orleans, Houma, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

“With The Salvation Army’s history of providing hope for over 100 years and ours of serving communities for over 100 years, we see them as an ideal partner in our efforts to make communities stronger during times of disaster,” said Matt Saurage, chairman at Community Coffee.  “We know how important that first cup of coffee can be from our mobile cafes that show up after a storm and we are combining efforts to reach more communities with the purchase of three new vans for The Salvation Army’s on the ground efforts.”

Community Coffee Company Chairman Matt Saurage and family owners, Donna, and Hank Saurage presented the ample check to Major Kent Davis, Divisional Commander for The Salvation Army Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi Division, and William Trueblood, EDS Divisional Director, following the press event introducing the new VRU adorned with the iconic 103-year-old Community Coffee brand.

“It is because of our partners like Community Coffee Company that we can sustain and reinforce our emergency response fleet to mobilize and respond swiftly and effectively when disaster strikes,” said EDS Divisional Director William Trueblood. “I’m grateful for their partnership and their enduring commitment to their community.”

Trueblood said these new vehicles would enable a speedier mobilization in response to a disaster throughout the Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi division. Already, The Salvation Army maintains a fleet of emergency response vehicles, including mobile canteens and kitchen units around the country-– with 270 of these assets in the southern United States alone.

“It is with a grateful heart that I thank our friends at Community Coffee Company for strengthening and expanding our fleet’s capacity to serve our communities in Alabama, Louisiana, and Alabama when tragedy strikes,” said Major Davis.

In the aftermath of category 4 Hurricane Ida’s destruction in August 2021, Community Coffee Company launched the Community Strong campaign committing 10% of retail sales proceeds, up to $250,000, from the sale of Community® coffee products to support The Salvation Army’s Hurricane Ida relief efforts. Following Ida, The Salvation Army provided over 450,000 meals, 9,000 food boxes, over 350,000 drinks and snacks, as well as emotional and spiritual care for thousands in need. In addition, Community Coffee Company served more than 90,000 cups of fresh coffee to first responders, frontline utility workers, and displaced residents.

The Salvation Army is nationally recognized as a sanctioned disaster relief and assistance organization. With a presence in almost every ZIP code in the country, it is uniquely positioned to respond with a clear understanding of each impacted area’s needs.

About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army annually helps more than 23 million Americans overcome poverty, addiction, and economic hardships through a range of social services. By providing food for the hungry, emergency relief for disaster survivors, rehabilitation for those suffering from drug and alcohol abuse, and clothing and shelter for people in need, The Salvation Army is doing the most good at 7,600 centers of operation around the country. In the first-ever listing of “America’s Favorite Charities” by The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Salvation Army ranked as the country’s largest privately funded, direct-service nonprofit. For more information, visit www.SalvationArmyUSA.org. Follow us on Twitter @SalvationArmyUS and #DoingTheMostGood.

The PepsiCo Foundation Supporting The Salvation Army’s Relief Efforts in Louisiana

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The PepsiCo Foundation, a long-time partner of The Salvation Army, has pledged their practical support of the ongoing Hurricane Ida relief efforts in Louisiana. Response is taking place throughout the state based out of Incident Command Posts in Gonzales and New Orleans.

The PepsiCo Foundation will provide $150,000 of in-kind donation in shelf stable meals through the Food for Good program in addition to a $100,000 grant to support additional food deliveries working closely with The Salvation Army Texas Emergency Disaster Services team.

“While first responders and relief agencies are still assessing the damage of Hurricane Ida, we know that citizens need relief now,” said Jon Banner, Executive Vice President, Global Communications and President of The PepsiCo Foundation. “That’s why we’re working with dedicated partners like The Salvation Army to deliver meals and emergency relief. These communities need our support as they face the immediate impacts of the storm and recover in its wake.”

PepsiCo’s Food for Good operation is donating nutritious, pre-packed, non-perishable meals to complement the hot meals The Salvation Army is serving through 38 mobile feeding units deployed in affected communities throughout Louisiana.

“Partners like PepsiCo enable us to respond quickly with the food, water, and emergency relief that disaster survivors need most in urgent crises like this one,” said Alvin Migues, Emergency Services Director at the Salvation Army. “We’re grateful to work together to ensure we are providing these services to the survivors of Hurricane Ida as quickly as possible.”

The Salvation Army continues to meet immediate needs through the delivery of hot meals, MREs, water, and emotional and spiritual care, as many locations remain without power in Louisiana.