Con-way Truckload Teams Up with Holy Joe's Cafe to Bring Coffee to Deployed Soldiers

JOPLIN, Mo., March 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Con-way Truckload, a full truckload carrier and subsidiary of Con-way Inc. (NYSE: CNW), has officially joined forces with military charity Holy Joe's Cafe as the charity's national transportation sponsor. Con-way will be providing pro bono freight transportation services to move thousands of pounds of donated coffee from suppliers to military bases across the country.

Con-way Truckload moved its first load of coffee for Holy Joe's in June 2014 and last year handled more than a dozen shipments, representing an in-kind donation of transportation services valued at more than $50,000, with plans to increase load movements in 2015. Each truckload carries approximately 400,000 – 500,000 Keurig K-Cups along, with a pallet of Keurig coffeemakers.

"Our nation's soldiers work tirelessly to keep our country safe, and our goal is to put a simple cup of coffee in their hands and give them a reminder of home," said Thomas Jastermsky, founder of Holy Joe's Cafe, which is a nonprofit coffeehouse chaplaincy ministry that serves U.S. troops. "Logistics and transportation are expensive, and without the generous contributions of companies like Con-way Truckload and their strong commitment to supporting our military overseas as well as when they return stateside, the mission we carry out at Holy Joe's simply wouldn't be achievable."

Keurig Green Mountain donates the whole- and ground-bean coffee, as well as Keurig K-Cups, to be transported by Con-way Truckload to various stateside U.S. military bases, such as Fort Hood and Fort Campbell. There, they are packaged into shipments and sent via military transport to units deployed overseas, primarily in the Middle East and in many cases, to forward operating locations in 35 different countries. The shipments are received by on-site military chaplains, who then set up informal on-base cafes where soldiers can experience a "taste of home" through fresh coffee.

At these "cafe ministries," soldiers also have the opportunity, in a safe and informal setting, to engage with a chaplain in meaningful conversations, receiving spiritual counsel to help them cope with the often extreme situations and difficult emotional experiences encountered in an active deployment. The program supports over 150 military chaplains deployed overseas.

"With 15 percent of our employees either U.S. armed services veterans or members of active reserve units, we take great pride in supporting our nation's military through charities like Holy Joe's, as well as being an employer that embraces veterans for their maturity, work ethic and leadership," said Bert Johnson, vice president of human resources at Con-way Truckload. "By helping organizations like Holy Joe's – and by providing good, solid jobs for our veterans when they return home – we hope to demonstrate our appreciation for and commitment to those who have sacrificed for our freedoms, and to be a strong voice for the ongoing support of our troops."

For information about Holy Joe's Cafe: https://www.facebook.com/HolyJoesCafe.

Follow Con-way Truckload on Twitter: http://twitter.com/True2BlueJobs.

Con-way equipment images are available at: www.con-way.com/en/about_con_way/newsroom.

About Con-way Truckload
Joplin, Missouri-based Con-way Truckload is a leading provider of time-definite dry-van full-truckload transportation services throughout the U.S., with extensive coverage of Mexico and service for Canada.  With 3,350 employees, 2,900 of whom are company drivers and dedicated owner-operators piloting a fleet of 2,900 tractors and 8,000 trailers, Con-way Truckload provides solo, team and dedicated trucking operations, with a focus on superior performance built on Lean continuous improvement methodologies to drive efficiencies and consistent quality service. With a workplace culture built on respect for employees and recognition of their professional skill and expertise as our keys to success, Con-way Truckload strives every day to deliver value-added services that help Fortune 500 businesses achieve supply chain goals. Visit Con-way Truckload on the web at www.con-way.com/truckload or call (800) 641-4747.

Con-way Truckload is an operating unit of Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Con-way Inc. (NYSE: CNW), a $5.8 billion diversified freight transportation and global logistics company (www.con-way.com).

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130313/MM76897LOGO

SOURCE Con-way Truckload

Related Links

http://www.con-way.com