Friday, January 18, 2008

McKinney coffee shop sending coffee to troops in Iraq

By Amy Pawlak of McKinneyNews.net

MCKINNEY — Newly engaged Katie Blanchard knows first-hand the importance of supporting the troops currently serving our country overseas. Ever since her fiance, Army Private First Class John Pomelow, deployed to Iraq in early December of 2007, she has learned how support from friends and loves ones back home can greatly increase troops’ moral while they are away from home.

Drawing on the couple’s own love for a great cup of coffee, Blanchard, an assistant manager at Coffee N Cream in downtown McKinney, initiated the Beans for Troops program. From Thanksgiving through the beginning of January, customers purchased one pound bags of Coffee N Cream’s own premium coffee to be sent to PFC Pomelow and the 200 soldiers also serving in his platoon.

“The soldiers I meet and already know, including John, always say they enjoy receiving things from home,” Blanchard said. “So, I thought it would be good to send over really great coffee for them to enjoy whenever they can. They have coffee there, of course, but not good, whole bean coffee like this. It’s definitely a treat for them.”

“When Katie first approached us with this idea, I thought it was fantastic,” John Ennen, Coffee N Cream co-owner, said. “Part of Coffee N Cream’s mission is to be a vital part of our community. Katie’s personal involvement and initiative is indicative of the type of people we’re fortunate to have on our team. Katie, along with Coffee N Cream’s generous customers, deserves all the credit while the troops deserve all our support.”

As a result of Blanchard’s efforts in pulling the program together, over 60lbs of coffee will be shipped to PFC Pomelow’s platoon this week. She also fittingly earned Coffee N Cream’s top sales award for December.

“John and his unit are so excited to receive these bags of coffee. They think Beans for Troops is a great idea and already have a coffee grinder on site ready to go,” Blanchard said.

She also expressed her thanks to all who participated in Beans for Troops.

“Thank you so much to everyone for their support for this program. It means so much to our troops to see such positive support from the people they are working so hard to protect.”

Locally owned and operated, Coffee N Cream offers premium drip coffee, espresso coffees, its own Java Chill blended coffees, Blue Bell hand dipped ice cream, unique and delectable desserts and fresh baked cookies. Whether sitting for hours to indulge yourself, stopping in for something quick, accessing the Internet via our FREE WiFi, or meeting with a group before or after a community event, Coffee N Cream strives to be the type of destination that becomes a meaningful, convenient, fun and enduring part of its neighborhood and community.

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