Holy Joe's Coffee Shop: keeping Malmstrom's defenders running

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Collin Schmidt
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Nestled deep within Malmstrom Air Force Base's command headquarters building, commonly referred to as Bldg. 500, is a very new parcel of office real estate that is quickly becoming the hot spot for Malmstrom's security forces personnel.

This "hot spot" comes in the form of a brand new and completely free coffee shop, which was implemented to support Airmen deploying out to the missile field. Before they leave and upon their return, Malmstrom's defenders can stop by what has come to be known as Holy Joe's Café for a free cup of coffee and a little relaxation.

The café was inspired by a ministry Chaplain (Capt.) Keith Manry, 341st Missile Wing chaplain for the security forces group, led while deployed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, where he served as the chaplain at Craig Joint Theater Hospital. With the hospital's café being a great success in the field and allowing him a more personal connection with its patrons, Manry decided to bring his idea of Holy Joe's stateside.

"In the midst of a high-stress environment in which we daily dealt with the casualties of war, it was important for our medical warriors and those who were in the hospital waiting on fellow unit members, to find a place of relief," Manry said. "Holy Joe's Café, a coffee shop run by myself and my chaplain assistant in the hospital, provided just that - an oasis."

The original concept of Holy Joe's Café was conceived by a church based in Connecticut. Their goal was to provide chaplains in all branches of the military with free coffee in order to open doors for communication and ministry with service members.

In order to make this idea a reality, the church began shipping K-cups and Keurig coffee machines free of charge to deployed chaplains around the world. As a result of this ministry, Manry not only received free coffee for the shop he helped run while deployed, but was also able to coordinate the shipment of 3.6 million K-cups into Afghanistan to be used by chaplains of all branches of the military.

"Upon returning from Afghanistan this summer, my contact at Holy Joe's emailed me and asked if he could continue to support me stateside," Manry said. "He offered to set me up with machines and K-cups for my ministry here. That offer gave birth to an idea. Since my ministry in Afghanistan was powerful due to my co-location with the members to whom I ministered, I asked the leadership of Security Forces if there was space where I could set up an office and coffee shop among the defenders. They graciously agreed and Holy Joe's Café was opened."

While still in its infancy stages and with some renovations still needing to take place, Bldg. 500's Holy Joe's Café is already serving more than 500 cups of coffee per week to Airmen.

With the help of end of year funds, the coffee shop has also been able to provide defenders and Airmen of various offices an environment where they are not only able to grab a cup of joe, but can also sit down and enjoy it.

"In addition to the coffee, organizations that partnered with me down range have asked to send care packages here," Manry said. "As the majority of our defenders will never get a chance to deploy to the sandbox and see firsthand the support and love of the American people, my goal is to bring that support and love to them at Malmstrom.

"The enthusiasm with which they have received boxes of candy bars and other simple personal items is extraordinary," he continued.

While the official grand opening of the café has yet to take place, support for its implementation has been tremendous. As an added bonus, it is open 24 hours a day and even if someone does not hold the title of defender, they are still welcome to stop by and enjoy some coffee.

Ultimately Manry's hope with Holy Joe's is twofold: to provide an oasis for defenders to visit before and after posting to the missile field, the weapons storage area or base side, and to extend the appreciation of the American public for the job these Airmen do each and every day.

"One Airman recently told me that 'Holy Joe's is the best thing that's happened to Building 500 in years,'" Manry said. "I'm grateful for the opportunity to lift the spirits of the outstanding men and women who defend our base and missile complex."