RENTON, WASH – In honor of Veterans Day, employees from the Seahawks, Starbucks and Delta Air Lines joined forces on Sunday to create 2,000 care packages for service members, veterans and their families in partnership with USO Northwest. The care packages included special items from all three organizations including Seahawks wristbands, pens, thank you cards and lip balm, Starbucks VIA, reusable cups with lids, gum and snacks, as well as ear buds, Biscoff cookies, Ritz Crisps and activity books for kids from Delta.

The event was part of the Seahawks and NFL's annual Salute to Service activities, which is the league's year-round effort to honor active U.S. military members, veterans and their families. The Seahawks' official Salute to Service game is on Thursday Night Football, November 15 vs. the Green Bay Packers and will include participation from more than 150 service members in pregame and halftime ceremonies.

"Delta employs more than 10,000 active military and veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, which is a significant part of our employee base. Support for armed service members and veterans is one of Delta's key pillars of giving in the communities we serve," said Tony Gonchar, Delta's Vice President – Seattle. "As partners of USO Northwest, the Seahawks and Starbucks, this event is a perfect opportunity to bring these partnerships and each of our unique areas of expertise together for the greater good of the military members in our community."

"Here in our hometown of Seattle, we are proud to partner with the Seahawks, Delta and the USO Northwest to honor the people who serve and protect our country," said Virginia Tenpenny, Vice President of Global Social Impact at Starbucks. "Starbucks has more than doubled the number of Veterans and Military Spouses we set out to hire five years ago. They make our company better and communities stronger." 

The Seahawks, Delta and Starbucks are all partners of USO Northwest and strong supporters of the U.S. Armed Forces. Delta has been a partner of USO Northwest since 2013, beginning with the Sea-Tac Center. The airline also supports local military members through its partnership with Friends of the VA Puget Sound Fisher House, Folds of Honor, Marine Toys for Tots and Habitat for Humanity, through which it has built three homes in a neighborhood designed for veterans.