Starbucks to offer free coffee to first responders, frontline workers

A woman holds a Starbucks coffee cup in Silver Spring, Maryland, on March 28. 2013. The US economy grew more strongly than initially thought in the fourth quarter …

A woman holds a Starbucks coffee cup in Silver Spring, Maryland, on March 28. 2013. The US economy grew more strongly than initially thought in the fourth quarter last year but was still moving at a sluggish 0.4 percent annual pace, the Department of Commerce said on March 28. AFP PHOTO/Jewel Samad (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images)

by: WFLA 8 On Your Side Staff

Posted: Mar 25, 2020 / 10:02 AM EDT

Updated: Mar 25, 2020 / 10:02 AM EDT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Starbucks announced they will be providing free brewed coffee to first responders and frontline workers during the coronavirus outbreak.

Starting Wednesday, March 25 through May 3, any customer who identifies as a first responder or frontline worker will receive a tall brewed coffee, hot or cold, at no charge. This includes police officers, firefighters, paramedics, doctors, nurses, hospital and medical staff, and medical researchers.

Starbucks will also donate $500,000 to frontline workers, $250,000 going to Operation Gratitude to support the delivery of 50,000 care packages to health care workers and $250,000 going to Direct Relief to support the delivery of personal protective equipment and essential medical items.

On March 15, Starbucks switched its store operations to a “to-go” model to help encourage social distancing during the COVID-19 crisis.

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