C-Store Industry Aids in Hurricane Irma Recovery
By Kristina Hurtig on Sep. 13, 2017CHICAGO -- While Hurricane Harvey relief efforts continue, the convenience, fuel and beverage industries are now stepping up to help with Hurricane Irma recovery.
Irma wreaked havoc when it hit Florida on Sept. 10, a little more than two weeks after Harvey hit Texas and Louisiana.
What follows are how some c-store industry players are pitching in …
Anheuser-Busch
St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch delivered more than 310,000 cans of emergency drinking water to Florida. With the help of Anheuser-Busch’s distributor partners, the water was delivered to the American Red Cross for distribution to communities in need, following an assessment of Hurricane Irma’s effect.
A-B has a longstanding tradition of providing water and supplies to those affected by natural disasters. To help with Hurricane Harvey relief efforts, A-B delivered more than 800,000 cans of emergency drinking water to communities in Texas and Louisiana.
Atlas Oil
As Texas and Florida continue to experience fuel shortages, Atlas Oil Co. has deployed 79 total trucks and drivers to regions affected by hurricanes Harvey and Irma, making the dual emergency deployment operation the largest in the Taylor, Mich.-based company’s 32-year history. Atlas sourced the trucks from around the country to support private and public-sector organizations in need of emergency fuel.
Chevron
Chevron USA Inc. is donating $1 million from Chevron and the Chevron Global Community Fund to assist with Hurricane Irma recovery efforts. The commitment includes a $600,000 donation to the American Red Cross from the Chevron Global Community Fund and $400,000 from Chevron’s Fuel Your School program, which will go to DonorsChoose.org for public-school classroom projects in South Florida.
In addition, San Ramon, Calif.-based Chevron will match any donations made to the relief efforts by its employees and retirees.
Coca-Cola
The Coca-Cola Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Co., pledged $1 million to the American Red Cross to support Hurricane Irma relief efforts. The funds will help provide immediate resources for food and shelter and will aid in long-term rebuilding efforts in the Southeastern United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
This donation builds on the $1 million the foundation donated for Hurricane Harvey relief efforts in August.
7-Eleven
7-Eleven, which has more than 800 stores in Florida, is donating $150,000 to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Irma relief efforts. It is also encouraging customers to support the American Red Cross by adding $1 to their in-store purchase at participating 7-Eleven stores nationwide or donating online at www.7-eleven.com/hurricane-relief.
The Irving, Texas-based retailer also gave away 4,800 cases of 7-Select purified water for free at three Florida locations on Sept. 9, as well as free ice at select locations.
Nestle Waters North America
Nestle Waters North America has worked with its partners, including the American Red Cross, Americares, Gleaning for the World, Convoy of Hope and Feeding America, to direct donate bottled water to communities affected by Hurricane Irma.
Since 2012, Stamford, Conn.-based Nestle Waters has donated more than $15 million worth of bottled water to disaster relief agencies
Parker's
Savannah, Ga.-based Parker’s provided free housing to team members who volunteered to work in evacuated areas during Hurricane Irma’s evacuation period. “There is a profound balancing act between servicing the needs of our customers and ensuring the safety of our employees. We feel a deep responsibility to both,” President and CEO Greg Parker said in a letter provided to CSP Daily News. The retailer also doubled its drivers and transport trucks and worked with its vendors to ensure it had the products its customers would need in preparation for Hurricane Irma.
Wawa
Through Sept. 22, Wawa, Pa.-based Wawa and The Wawa Foundation are running a chainwide in-store campaign designed to provide disaster relief assistance to communities most affected by Hurricane Irma. The campaign is being held in partnership with the American Red Cross and allows customers to contribute to Irma relief efforts by adding $1, $3 or $5 to their Wawa purchase at checkout.
In addition to customer donations, The Wawa Foundation will be making its own $250,000 donation to the campaign.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Harvey relief efforts are ongoing.
- Douglass Distributing, Sherman, Texas, donated $10,000 to the Red Cross, the Salvation Army and to other local charities to aid with the flooding that Hurricane Harvey caused.
- Austin, Texas-based Wayne Fueling Systems, part of Dover Fueling Solutions, has launched initiatives to aid service station owners and operators in Hurricane Harvey-affected areas of Texas and Louisiana. Efforts began Sept. 5, when Wayne deployed staff to Houston with Wayne parts to assist in the service efforts. The plan is to accelerate delivery of parts to those stations in need. Wayne has also recently announced a “Texans Helping Texans” new dispenser replacement program to assist those stations with dispensers damaged beyond repair by Hurricane Harvey.