If you popped into your local Starbucks today, there’s a good chance you saw the annual Starbucks red cups, a holiday themed paper cup that the Seattle based coffee shop uses during November and December.

Of course, with the festive red cups come the much anticipated holiday beverages – Egg Nog Latte, Peppermint Mocha and Gingerbread Latte. And online, you can find all the holiday mugs and tumblers and seasonal coffees, including new Christmas Blend and Peppermint Mocha instant VIAs. There are also holiday gift sets for coffee, tea and chocolate lovers.

And, as a result of Hurricane Sandy, the Seattle-based Starbucks Foundation will be contributing $500,000 to the disaster relief efforts. Immediately, $250,000 will go to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund to assist those in need and another $250,000 will be contributed to the United Way Hurricane Sandy Recovery Fund for longer term assistance to the impacted neighborhoods.

Starbucks encourages its customers to help Hurricane Sandy victims by texting REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 to the American Red Cross, or text RECOVERY to 52000 to donate $10 to the United Way.