As the people of Lebanon start to rebuild following the catastrophic explosions in Beirut Port this month, The Starbucks Foundation and Alshaya Group have committed matching donations of $100,000 each to support disaster relief and rebuilding efforts on the ground.

The funding will be distributed to a number of organisations with the goal of giving immediate relief and supporting the city’s recovery, with a specific emphasis on food and shelter.

The Starbucks Foundation will immediately donate $75,000 to CARE who are working to provide shelter and other immediate assistance to homeless families, and $25,000 to World Central Kitchen who are serving more than 10,000 meals daily to people at local hospitals, seniors isolated at home, first responders, volunteers and community organizations.

Reflecting its strong links with the local community, Alshaya Group will donate $100,000 to the Lebanon-based aid organisation, Offre Joie, who are providing shelter to displaced families and organising volunteers to clean up and rehabilitate homes.   

 “Our thoughts are with the people of Lebanon who have been impacted, as well as all of the emergency personnel who have responded to this tragic event,” said Duncan Moir, President, Starbucks Europe, Middle East and Africa. “While this donation will help with the recovery it’s our partners (employees) who are responding with humanity and empathy and we are very proud of how they are serving their communities, every day”

 “Our team on the ground in Lebanon has already been incredibly strong in their response to this crisis, demonstrating a spirit of resilience and compassion that we are truly proud of,” commented Mohammed Alshaya, Executive Chairman, Alshaya Group.  “Through this donation we are very pleased to join hands with them in supporting the city’s recovery and helping to rebuild the fabric of the community.”  

Alshaya Group has partnered with Starbucks since 1999 to operate the brand across the Middle East and currently has over 40 Starbucks locations in Lebanon.  Its 200-strong team of Starbuck partners has been pulling together since the explosion to support each other and the local community; cleaning streets, providing coffee and water to volunteers, helping local residents clear broken glass from their apartments and simply providing much needed emotional support to colleagues and neighbours.  The partners’ actions reflect the like-minded values of Starbucks and Alshaya.

The Starbucks Foundation strengthens humanity by transforming lives across the world, with a focus on enabling community resiliency and prosperity and uplifting communities affected by disaster. Established in 1997, The Starbucks Foundation is a Section 501(c)(3) charitable organization under U.S. law.