Community Service Roundup, August 2023
By Rachel Gignac on Sep. 08, 2023In August, 12 convenience-store chains, an energy supplier and a beverage supplier made charitable donations. Funds went to children in need of school supplies, tornado victims in Texas, wildfire support in Hawaii and more.
Click through to read about this month’s charity initiatives …
Jacksons Food Stores
Jacksons Food Stores launched the Giving Pump at all of its locations that operate Shell stations. There is one purple-wrapped Giving Pump at each location that, with no extra charge to customers, results in donations to the Boys & Girls Clubs charity local to each store. The donation comes from a portion of the revenues that the pump generates.
“It is a core tenet of Jacksons Food Stores to support children,” said Cory Jackson, president of Jacksons Food Stores, Meridian, Idaho. “Any campaign that empowers our customers to direct their spending toward bettering their communities for younger generations is a worthy one. We’re thrilled to continue our participation in this annual giving event.”
7-Eleven
In response to the devastating series of wildfires that have prompted evacuations and caused widespread destruction in Lāhainā on Maui and throughout Hawaii, 7-Eleven Inc., based in Irving, Texas, made an immediate $25,000 donation to the American Red Cross Hawaii Wildfires Relief Fund relief efforts.
Hawaii residents are coping with the tremendous devastation in the wake of these wildfires, which will likely rank among the worst in modern-day U.S. history.
“These funds will provide lifesaving aid to those directly impacted by this crisis,” said Marissa Jarratt, executive vice president and chief marketing and sustainability officer.
Wawa
Wawa transformed a former Philadelphia store into a production facility for Popcorn for the People, an organization established in 2014 to produce and package product creating career opportunities for autistic individuals. Wawa announced its commitment during the Philadelphia Eagles’ opening practice alongside the team’s owner, Jeffrey Lurie, and the Eagles Autism Foundation.
The Wawa, Pennsylvania-based convenience-store chain also plans to offer Popcorn for the People products in select stores later this year.
To enable this partnership, Wawa will provide in-kind support which will exceed $1.5 million over the next five years. The transformation of the store also includes support from Eagles Autism Foundation via funding for store equipment to make the popcorn in conjunction with their partner, Nouryon, who has been a significant contributor to the Eagles Autism Foundation’s grants program and provided $500,000 in matching gifts to help bring the project to life. All renovations are expected to be completed with popcorn popping by first-quarter 2024.
Casey’s
Casey’s, Ankeny, Iowa, kicked off its in-store giving campaign to support America’s future generation of leaders. Casey’s guests had the option to round up their purchases each time they visited a Casey’s convenience store. The cause has raised $3 million for students, families and educators since 2020.
Funds help provide for schools located in Casey’s communities across 16 states.
Wills Group
Wills Group is teaming up with Shell USA for its third year of participation in The Giving Pump as part of Shell USA’s Force for Good initiative to drive positive change in local communities by giving back. Through September, the Wills Group, based in La Plata, Maryland, will donate a portion of the purchases made by consumers who use the designated Giving Pump at more than 90 Shell stations across the Mid-Atlantic region to the Capital Area Food Bank.
The Capital Area Food Bank provides more than 50 million meals to people in communities across Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C., in partnership with more than 400 nonprofit food assistance partners across the region. In addition to providing meals, Capital Area Food Bank also offers direct food distribution programs, including after-school meals for kids, free produce markets and emergency food distribution.
Love’s Travel Stops
Love’s Travel Stops, Oklahoma City, donated $100,000 to the St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund, which helps cover expenses, including rent, mortgage, utilities, insurance and vehicle payments when drivers are unable to work due to injury or illness. It also provides free health and wellness programs for professional truck drivers.
“Professional drivers are a vital part of the nation’s economy and industry, and they mean so much to us at Love’s,” said Jenny Love Meyer, executive vice president and chief culture officer at Love’s. “It’s essential to support them during hardships, and we’re proud to support St. Christopher in its efforts to be there for drivers at their most challenging times.”
Royal Farms
Royal Farms, Baltimore, donated more than 3,000 bookbags and school supplies to The Preston Mitchum Jr. (PMJ) Foundation’s annual Back-to-School Drive campaign. The PMJ Foundation helps to provide shelters with necessities for less fortunate individuals and families.
Back to school time coincided with Royal Farms’ annual Chickenpalooza charity event in August. Royal Farms donated 10 cents of every two-piece chicken box sold to a local charity in each of the states that they operate. The festive chicken boxes had a QR code linked to a website where customers voted where they want each donation to go.
The Spinx Co.
The Spinx Co., Greenville, South Carolina, donated $120,000 across four local charities including the American Red Cross, Greenville Free Medical Clinic, Loaves and Fishes and Safe Harbor. The money was raised during their Annual Charity Classic Golf Tournament held in May.
Spinx chose beneficiaries that are aligned with its corporate charitable mission: Spinx & Kids: Mind, Body, Spirit. Growing healthy kids where we live, work and play.
Sheetz
Sheetz, Altoona, Pennsylvania, raised $660,863 during its annual month of in-store fundraising in July.
“We are extremely appreciative of our customers and their ongoing generosity,” said Brittany Funcheon, executive director for Sheetz For the Kidz. “Year in and year out, our customers amaze us by their desire to give back and help their communities. Because of them, Sheetz For the Kidz will be able to make the holiday season brighter for thousands of local children and families in need.”
Maverik
Maverik, Salt Lake City, donated $686,576 to National Park Foundation (NPF), the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service. Funds will help connect kids to meaningful learning experiences at national parks across Maverik’s 12 western states through the NPF’s Open OutDoors for Kids program.
All funds were raised as part of a Round Up Your Change summer register donation program that ran at Maverik stores. An overwhelming $411,576 was raised through Maverik’s customer donations. This supplemented Maverik’s $250,000 donation to NPF, and its vendor partner Swire donating another $25,000.
Yesway
Fort Worth, Texas-based Yesway achieved its $200,000 goal for its latest Texas Strong fundraising campaign.
Yesway launched the Texas Strong fundraising campaign with an initial commitment to donate $100,000 to extend support and aid to the communities affected by the catastrophic tornadoes that struck the towns of Matador, Hawley and Perryton, Texas in late June, which are among the communities the company serves in the state.
Alta Convenience
Alta Convenience along with its sister chain Petro Mart raised more than $165,000 over the last three years to Wings for Life, a non-profit that raises money for spinal cord research. Customers and employees could purchase a red paper wing with their name on it to be posted around the store. Both customers and employees enjoy participating in such a great cause and giving back to the community.
MAPCO
MAPCO, Franklin, Tennessee, presented a $25,000 check to the CMA Foundation, which works to improve music education programs, on behalf of Luke Combs and Whiskey Jam. The money will go toward improving and sustaining music education programs across the country.
MAPCO also partnered with Music Will, a nonprofit music program, to makeover a music classroom at Smith Springs Elementary School in Antioch, Tennessee. Volunteers painted murals, assembled donated furniture and set up new recording equipment.
Kum & Go
Kum & Go, Des Moines, Iowa, raised more than $37,000 during its annual Gallons for Growth campaign in partnership with Pepsi Beverages North America.
Five cents from every gallon of gas sold on July 27 was donated to nonprofits in participating markets. Additionally, 5 cents from every 20-ounce Pepsi bottle sold in July was also included in the donation.
This year’s participating markets and nonprofit partners were:
- Foundation for Springfield Public Schools, Springfield, Missouri
- Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter, Washington County and Benton County, Arkansas
- Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas, Jonesboro, Arkansas
- LIFT-U, Garfield County, Colorado
Cenex
Cenex, the energy brand of CHS Inc., in partnership with Pinnacle Cooperative, awarded Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports, a non-profit with the mission of providing sports opportunities for youth and adults living with physical and mental disabilities, with a $25,000 Hometown Pride grant.
The grant will help the organization purchase additional sports wheelchairs, eliminating the financial burden for those unable to participate without adaptive equipment.
Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits
Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, an alcohol beverage company donated $50,000 to two charities, Maui Strong Fund Hawaii Community Foundation as well as Kokua Restaurant & Hospitality Fund for Maui, to support relief efforts in Maui after recent wildfires caused devastation across the island.
Southern Glazer’s donated $25,000 to the Maui Strong Fund Hawaii Community Foundation, which provides financial resources that can be deployed quickly, with a focus on rapid response and recovery in Maui. The company is also donating $25,000 to the Kokua Restaurant & Hospitality Fund for Maui to help provide immediate assistance to the restaurant, bar and hospitality workers displaced by the wildfires that have impacted West Maui communities from Lahaina to Kapalua.
In addition to this corporate donation, grassroots efforts have been led by Southern Glazer’s employees to raise nearly $50,000 for a fellow team member who lost their home during the disaster.