Books-A-Million collects coffee for troops overseas | News

FLORENCE, AL (WAFF)- Thousands of bags of coffee are being shipped from the Shoals to our troops in Kuwait and Afghanistan.

"You can be having the most horrible day imaginable and something like this will pick you right up off the ground," said veteran and Books-A-Million employee, Jeffrey Palmer.

Palmer is an air force veteran. During his 27 years of service, he knows all too well the importance of care packages while being deployed.

"I've been over there probably during every holiday you can think of, especially Christmas, and that is probably the greatest thing on earth," said Palmer. "It causes you not to miss family and friends as much because you received something that gives you an upbeat happy feeling about them."

Over the last six weeks, Books-A-Million collected bags of coffee through customer donations at their stores across the country.

The company collected more than 9,000 bags of coffee each with a personalized note, just in time for Christmas.

"It takes your mind off of where you are and what you're doing at the moment, especially at the holidays," said George Winstead, Books-A-Million senior operations manager.

Winstead is also a veteran himself.

"I don't think the average American person realizes how important it is to get a care package, especially a signature or signed care package from someone at home. It brightens your day," Winstead said.

"It bolsters your belief in our country by the people, the American people, the everyday people who do something like that - knows you're not forgotten, not off over there on your own, that you can count on support from home," said Palmer.

All of the coffee is being shipped to Soldiers' Angels in North Carolina.

From there, it'll be shipped overseas.

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