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Community Corner

Farmers Market Vendor Donating to Troops

Moon Doggie Coffee Roasters use Java for Joes program to help aid those overseas.

It's hard to imagine serving in the military for those who don't, but even harder when considering being stationed far from the small comforts of home where things like a good cup of coffee are taken for granted.

Moon Doggie Coffee Roasters, a weekly vendor at the Chatham Borough Farmers Market, is doing its part to lift the spirits of men and women serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. Owners Donna and Bob Funk–along with the help of many customers–have donated and shipped over 1,000 pounds of coffee to the troops and "will continue doing so until the last soldier comes home," said the Funks.

It all started in June of 2007 when the Funks received an email from Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. DiNicola, of Company 1-285 Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, a company of Apache attack helicopter pilots and maintenance crew stationed in the Middle East. 

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"For the past four and a half months we have been exposed to Folgers [and] desperately miss good coffee," wrote DiNicola. "The small things like a good cup of coffee are the things we miss most here [and it would] lift our morale up a notch if you would support us."

And thus, the Java For Joes program began. The Funks say what differentiates Moon Doggie's coffee donation from others is that they will match coffee donations pound for pound and take care of the shipping, whereas the some other coffee companies will only ship coffee donated by their customers and don't match it.

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In addition to their retail store in Maywood, Moon Doggie sells their coffee and tea at the Chatham Borough Farmers Market every week as well as at several other farmers markets in the state.

On Sept. 10, Moon Doggie will celebrate its special "Freedom Day" event at the Farmers Market when 100 percent of the proceeds from every cup of coffee and tea sold will be donated to the Java For Joes program. The program helps ensure they have "enough funds for the upcoming holidays," said Donna Funk.

"If one little thing like a cup of coffee will lift their morale up a notch, then this is something we have to do," she said.

Other events happening this week:

Friday

  • Ongoing until the start of school: Complimentary four-by-six photo of caregiver and child, by Judy Shanahan Photography.
  • Reduced membership rates ($150) now available at Colony Pool for remainder of season; free for seniors.
  • U.S.T.A. Level I Championship Tournament Finals for boys and girls, ages 16 through 18. From 4 to 7 p.m. at Center Court, 222 North Passaic Avenue, free.

Saturday, Aug 13

Sunday, Aug 14

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