Starbucks Launches 'Create Jobs for USA'

Starting this week, you can help create jobs and grab an eggnog latte when you stop by , or any Starbucks for that matter. 

Every Starbucks location in the U.S. now has “Indivisible” wristbands available for a $5 donation. Donations will benefit the "Create Jobs for USA" Fund, which pools donations from Starbucks customers, employees and concerned citizens into a nationwide fund to be used for community business loans in the U.S. 

Starbucks seeded the fund with a $5 million contribution from their corporate foundation.

The fund is managed by the Opportunity Finance Network, a national network of financial institutions the are dedicated to affordable lending to help low-income, low-wealth and other disadvantaged people and communities. 

The “Create Jobs for USA" program and "Indivisible" wristbands provide Americans an opportunity to help support job creation at a time when we have alarming unemployment and many struggling small businesses. The more we stimulate demand and increase the purchasing power of middle class consumers, the faster we will recover.

"By making a donation to the 'Create Jobs for USA' Fund, Starbucks customers and concerned citizens can take meaningful action to help create and sustain American jobs,” said Starbucks chairman and CEO Howard Schultz in a news release. 

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate in Monmouth County is 8.1 percent as of April 2011.

The New Jersey unemployment rate dropped to 9.2 percent in September, edging closer to the national unemployment rate of 9.1 percent, according to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

The wristbands, which are red, white and blue, were handmade in the U.S. and all component materials were manufactured by U.S. suppliers.

Editor's note: Patch has an agreement with Starbucks to provide local news content for the Starbucks Web site in towns where there is a Patch.