Support a Soldier at Caribou Coffee

At Caribou Coffee located at 12713 Braemar Village Plaza in Bristow, you can buy yourself a nice cup of coffee or you can buy some for the troops.

Caribou Coffee in northern Virginia has joined up with St. Stephen’s Military Package Program, started by Beverly and Jim Waldenfels, who are members of the St. Stephen's United Methodist Church in Burke, Va.

The Waldenfelses created the program in 2005, when their son was serving active duty in Iraq. The idea was to send soldiers items that reminded them of home.

Coffee seemed like a natural fit.

“It’s the number one most requested thing the troops are asking for,” said Katie Nebel, Caribou Coffee store manager at the Bristow location.

While military men and women do get coffee, they do not get the same quality of coffee they would get from a Bristow barista as such it makes an excellent gift.

“It gets sent to everywhere from Afghanistan to different embassies (where troops are stationed,)” said Nebel.

Last year Caribou of Bristow donated 500 lbs of coffee. This year they are almost there again. On Saturday, Nov 26, the Waldenfelses picked up 120 lbs of coffee beans from the location.

Caribou Coffee, Inc. is one of the largest local contributors to St. Stephen’s Military Package Program, but they also send the troops any items that would make their lives easier and remind them of home.

Caribou in Bristow has participated for three years, and Nebel said she enjoys receiving letters back from the soldiers.

So next time you stop in for your caffeine fix, consider how lucky you are to be home in Bristow, and donate to those brave men and women overseas!