ALTOONA, Pa. -- Sheetz Inc. has donated $1,000 in gasoline to a family from Cullen, Va. Michael Lucas, his wife Jean and their two sons were featured on ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. They were presented with a completely furnished new home, built specifically for them.
After the unveiling, many area businesses gave prizes to the Lucas family. Representatives from Sheetz were on hand to award them with gift cards for the purchase of $1,000 worth of gasoline at any Sheetz convenience store.
The family also received the keys [image-nocss] to their new home, a new truck, a complete payoff of their home mortgage and other prizes and gifts from other participating companies.
"This is one of the coolest things we have been asked to be involved with in a long time," said Stan Sheetz, president and CEO of Sheetz. "We were excited when the producers of Extreme Makeover contacted us about the opportunity to support the show and a deserving local family. We are also proud that our Farmville store manager, Kevin Boyd, volunteered to lend a hand with cleaning and painting at the Lucas' new home."
Lucas is currently serving oversees in the National Guard in Iraq. Less than a year ago, he and his wife purchased land to build a new home. Unfortunately, before they could get started, he was deployed. His wife has been left to care for their two sons, one of whom has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
"Sheetz is a company that has always stood for family," said Stan Sheetz. "The entire Farmville, Va., community pulled together to help the Lucas family fulfill their dreams and we are so proud to be a part of this effort."
Altoona, Pa.-based Sheetz operates 343 convenience locations throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio and North Carolina.
Meanwhile, Louis Vitale, 7-Eleven store manager in Bondville, Vt., was selected as a EHME recipient in Vermont. The show aired December 9. Vitale has worked for franchisee Mark Guest for six years. His youngest son, Lou Jr., was born with a number of health issues. He suffers from anterior horn cell disease, which is a neurological disorder that affects muscle and joint development. Lou Jr., also has a tracheotomy, is fed intravenously and requires around the clock care.
Vitale applied to EHME last year after watching an episode of the show that featured a family with a similar situation.
7-Eleven team members from Market 2461, the Northeast Division, and the franchisee's family were behind the scenes managing a 24-hour food service operation to serve hundreds of workers, crew members and volunteers. The Oh Thank Heaven tent featured hot coffee, grill items and fresh bakery and sandwiches.
Dawn Rudnansky, market manager for 2461, was instrumental in organizing the 7-Eleven food tent at the site. "Shawn Barnes, who is one of our Field Consultants, came up with the idea to donate some Big Bite hot dogs to the workers," said Rudnansky. "Things just took off from there. We worked with Operations, Merchandising and Logistics to set everything up and the workers loved it."
While the show provides meals through a catering service, there is no food or drink served after dinner. With the builders and volunteers working around the clock, 7-Eleven was able to help them refuel with hot coffee and fresh foods.
"This is the best thing that could have had happened for the Vitale family," said Guest. "It's been great for the community too. People are excited and Lou is like a rock star."
Vitale said hundreds of people have driven by to get a glimpse of the house and people are even coming into the 7-Eleven store to meet him. "Random people are just giving me hugs," Vitale said. "One lady was crying when she met me. I'm so humbled by the kindness of strangers and the encouraging messages I get from so many people. This experience has changed our lives for the better. The home meets all of our needs and my son Lou can live here for the rest of his life."
Irving Oil also participated in the December 9 episode. It is the family's home heating supplier.
Company employees embraced the family project, working and giving their time and energy during the seven-day period needed to build a new house that would accommodate the special needs of the Vitale family and their physically challenged son.
Irving Oil is a family-owned and privately held regional energy processing, transporting, and marketing company with 800 retail location, headquartered in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, with U.S. marketing operations in Portsmouth, N.H.
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