Community Service Roundup, July 2023
By Rachel Gignac on Aug. 11, 2023In July, 10 convenience stores, a fuel provider and one distributor raised funds for charitable causes. Donations went to housing initiatives, children’s hospitals, the American Red Cross, reimagining an outdoor park and more.
Click through to read more about this month’s charity initiatives …
Kum & Go
Kum & Go, Des Moines, Iowa, donated $547,000 to Habitat for Humanity International this year. Since 2014, Kum & Go and Habitat have worked together to build decent and affordable homes in communities across the United States. Over the past 10 years, Kum & Go has raised more than $5.5 million for Habitat for Humanity.
In April, Kum & Go’s locations collected customer donations at checkout, totaling more than $290,000. It also donated 10 cents from every 20-ounce K&G bottle of water customers purchased during the month as part of its Buy Water & Build Homes campaign.
In addition to in-store efforts, Kum & Go engaged with Habitat affiliates in many local communities over the last several months. Kum & Go associates donated time and support during the Earth Day block party with Habitat for Humanity of Detroit. Local Kum & Go stores and associates also participated in build days. Additionally, Kum & Go sponsored the Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build Luncheon, where women came together to create community and affordable homeownership opportunities in Des Moines.
Chestnut Market
Chestnut Market, a CPD Energy Corp. brand based in New Paltz, New York, held a fishing tournament for charity in July. The tournament supported families of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital with meals, lodging, toys, games and more.
Sheetz
Sheetz, Altoona, Pennsylvania, kicked off its annual month of in-store fundraising to support Sheetz For the Kidz, an employee-driven charity supporting children in need.
In July, customers supported local families in need of clothes, toys and other basic needs by making donations at check-out through change boxes or by adding funds to their purchase at the point of sale.
Rutter’s
Rutter’s Children’s Charities, York, Pennsylvania, supported the American Red Cross in July by matching all donations that stores collected in charity canisters.
The initiative was in conjunction with the National Association of Convenience Stores’ annual 24/7 Day on July 24 throughout the convenience-store industry in support of first responders.
QuikTrip
QuikTrip, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and its partner St. Vincent de Paul Georgia, an organization that increases housing stability, are on track to secure stable housing for more than 200 families in 2023 with the Motel to Home program.
The program has grown to serve all of metro Atlanta in 12 Georgia counties: Butts, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Paulding. Most clients live in motels in DeKalb and Gwinnett counties, where there is a high concentration of extended-stay motels.
In 2024, the program anticipates serving 275 families and growing to 425 in 2025 with QuikTrip’s continued support. Also, the first client outside of metro Atlanta, Glynn County, entered the Motel to Home program.
7-Eleven
7-Eleven, Irving, Texas, raised nearly $3 million to support Children’s Miracle Network hospitals across America through the company’s 32nd Annual Miracle Tournament and Celebration Dinner.
Nearly 1,000 supporters, including 7-Eleven franchisees, vendors and employees, rallied together to raise funds and celebrate the children who directly benefit from CMN Hospitals. This year, 50 Miracle Children and their families—each representing their local member hospital—were on hand to meet and interact with the participants, share their personal stories and have fun.
Dash In
Dash In and its parent company, the Wills Group, based in La Plata, Maryland, completed its latest park revitalization project at Tanglewood Park in Clinton, Maryland, as part of its signature program, Reimagining Outdoor Spaces.
Dash In and Wills Group employees, along with community members and local nonprofit partners who supported the project, celebrated the completion of the park transformation which included a mural on the refinished basketball court, new fencing, an ADA accessible trail, new marker signage for the trail, park benches and landscaping.
Circle K
Laval, Quebec-based Circle K partnered with the San Antonio Missions Baseball Club for the 2023 Texas League Postseason.
All active and retired members of the military can receive up to four complimentary outfield or bullpen reserved tickets during Missions home playoff games.
Each Missions home playoff game will include a Special Veterans Spotlight, which will include a military veteran throwing out the ceremonial first pitch and receiving VIP tickets for that game.
Parker’s Cos.
Parker’s Cos., Savannah, Georgia, raised $241,523 through a round-up campaign to support America’s Second Harvest in Georgia and Lowcountry Food Bank in South Carolina. The round-up campaign focused on food insecurity with Parker’s Kitchen matching 25% of customer donations through the Parker’s Community Fund.
Since Parker’s Kitchen launched its round-up campaign in May 2022, the company has raised more than $413,000 to fight hunger in Georgia and South Carolina.
Casey’s
Casey’s General Stores, Ankeny, Iowa, and Feeding America, a hunger-relief organization, provided 30 million meals to people struggling with hunger in its local communities.
Since establishing the partnership in 2020, Casey’s invites customers to join the movement to end hunger and participate in Casey’s annual round-up at the register campaign supporting Feeding America. For each dollar donated, 10 meals are distributed to families across the heartland through the Feeding America nationwide network of food banks.
Gulf Oil
Gulf Oil, Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts, donated $25,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater New Haven, Connecticut. The donation funded a new scoreboard in the club's gymnasium and provided financial support for the club's after school program, which serves as a safe space for members as they participate in activities after the school days and throughout the summer.
Gulf presented the donation at an event held at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater New Haven this spring. Club members enjoyed a day of inflatable games in the gymnasium, a DJ dance party and an ice cream truck.
Tehuacan USA
Pharr, Texas-based J3 Distributors, doing business as Tehuacan USA, a provider of natural mineral water, partnered with Upbring, an Austin, Texas-based nonprofit dedicated to breaking the cycle of child abuse.
Tehuacan USA began featuring Upbring's logo on its water bottles sold in convenience stores in July in Texas including Buc-ee’s, Stripes and 7-Eleven. With every bottle sold, Tehuacan donated to Upbring with contributions estimated to reach $100,000 or more annually.
“At Tehuacan USA, we understand our role in society extends beyond providing a natural and healthy beverage,” said Jimmy Garza, CEO of Tehuacan USA. “We see a shared responsibility to our communities, and this partnership with Upbring is our commitment to that responsibility. Together, we can create positive change, one bottle at a time.”
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