Can the act of buying coffee change the world? Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz thinks so, and he wants to give free coffee to his customers while doing it.

Today through Friday, Starbucks has announced on its website, the company will give a free coffee to anyone who offers to buy a coffee for someone else.

In the message on the chain's website from Schultz, he explains the effort is an attempt to help the country come together following the recent troubles in Washington such as the government shutdown and the looming debate over raising the debt ceiling.