Community Service Roundup: Initiatives by 11 Retailers (November 2017)
By Kristina Hurtig on Nov. 14, 2017CHICAGO -- This community-service roundup features 11 convenience-store retailers and two suppliers supporting veterans, donating to hurricane and wildfire relief, handing out scholarships and more.
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1. 7-Eleven
Irving, Texas-based 7-Eleven named and donated a chocolate draft horse to join the Baltimore Police Department. The horse is named Slurpee for the c-store chain’s iconic frozen beverage.
The Baltimore Police, which has one of the oldest mounted units in the country, will use Slurpee and his horse counterparts as a way to boost the police force and its community relations, Sgt. Russ Robar told The Baltimore Sun.
In 2006, 7-Eleven donated another horse—also named Slurpee—to the Baltimore Police Department. That horse is retiring after 10 years with the police department.
2. BP
The BP Foundation donated $50,000 to the American Red Cross to assist with the purchase of emergency food, health services and shelter for those displaced by the wildfires in Northern California. La Palma, Calif.-based BP’s ampm convenience-store chain also donated nearly 600 cases of water to first responders and relief organizations in the region.
3. Casey’s General Stores
Throughout November, Casey’s General Stores, Ankeny, Iowa, is hosting its annual Dog Tag promotion to raise funds and awareness for Hope for the Warriors, a national nonprofit dedicated to restoring a sense of self, family and hope for veterans, service members and military families. Patrons of the more than 1,900 Casey’s convenience stores can support Hope for the Warriors by purchasing a dog tag for $1.
Casey’s and its customers also donated $366,093.76 to the American Red Cross to help those affected by hurricanes Harvey and Irma. The total includes a company match for the first $100,000 raised.
4. Chevron
In October, San Ramon, Calif.-based Chevron contributed $500,000 from the Chevron Global Community Fund to the American Red Cross in support of relief efforts for the wildfires in Northern and Southern California.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of life and the devastation caused by the wildfires in our home state,” said Mike Wirth, vice chairman of Chevron. “Our thoughts are with all those affected by these fires and the first responders working to contain them.”
5. Cumberland Farms
Cumberland Farms is accepting applications for its 2018 Believe and Achieve Scholarship Program, which awards $1,000 scholarships to 130 eligible high school seniors each year. The application period runs through Dec. 4, and winners will be announced in spring 2018.
Additionally, to support communities affected by hurricanes Harvey and Irma, the Framingham, Mass.-based retailer raised more than $56,000 for the American Red Cross. From Sept. 18 to 24, 10 cents from every fountain or frozen Chill Zone beverage purchased at Cumberland Farms’ nearly 600 locations was donated to the organization.
6. High’s of Baltimore
To help those affected by hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, High’s of Baltimore raised $20,000 for the American Red Cross through independent customer donations and a coffee promotion in which 10 cents of every cup sold was donated. High’s is a Baltimore-based chain of 46 c-stores.
7. Love’s Travel Stops
Love’s Travel Stops raised more than $2.76 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH). From Aug. 26 to Sept. 30, Love’s team members sold Miracle Balloon icons and organized events such as 5K runs, bowling tournaments, fishing tournaments, cookouts and more.
Hurricanes Harvey and Irma hit during the 18th annual campaign, forcing several Love’s locations in Texas and Florida to temporarily close. Despite the challenge, Love’s surpassed its goal of raising $2.6 million and set a company record for the most money raised during the in-store campaign.
Oklahoma City-based Love’s showed additional support for CMNH on National Coffee Day, which took place Sept. 29 during the store campaign. To honor the day, all 24-ounce coffees and cappuccinos were discounted to $1, with all sales going to CMNH.
8. Pilot Flying J
In honor of Veterans Day on Nov. 11, Pilot Flying J donated $125,000 to Bunker Labs, a national not-for-profit organization based in Chicago and built by military veteran entrepreneurs to empower other military veterans to start and grow their own businesses. Pilot Flying J, a veteran-founded company based in Knoxville, Tenn., said the donation will aid Bunker Labs in its expansion across the country.
9. Rutter's Farm Stores
On Veterans Day, York, Pa.-based Rutter’s Farm Stores offered a free coffee, fountain or frozen beverage to military personnel who came in with their military ID. Rutter’s also gives free coffee, fountain or frozen drinks to military members in uniform every day of the year.
10. Sheetz
Altoona, Pa.-based Sheetz donated $150,000 to hurricane disaster relief efforts. From Sept. 7 to 30, the retailer’s 560 stores across Florida, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia accepted donations at checkouts for the victims of hurricanes Harvey and Irma. The funds were accompanied by a lump sum donation by Sheetz, and a portion of the match donation was designated for hurricane relief in Puerto Rico.
11. Wawa
Wawa and The Wawa Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded to encompass all of Wawa’s charitable giving, have distributed $6.7 million in 2017 to causes supporting health, hunger and everyday heroes, the Wawa, Pa.-based retailer announced. Overall, The Wawa Foundation has contributed more than $39.7 million since its founding in 2014 and is on its way to meeting its goal of $50 million in contributions by 2018.
12. Carl Buddig & Co.
In September, Homewood, Ill.-based Carl Buddig & Co. partnered with the Greater Chicago Food Depository for the third consecutive year, donating more than 250,000 pounds of chicken and pork products (valued at $650,000) to help feed Chicago families.
13. Icelandic Glacial
Los Angeles-based Icelandic Glacial, maker of a superpremium natural spring water bottled from Iceland’s Olfus Spring, partnered with Ben Stiller’s Stiller Foundation and Cher to donate more than 600,000 bottles of water to people in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands after the areas were hit by hurricanes.
Have a community-service announcement of your own to share? Send related news to Kristina Peters at kpeters@winsightmedia.com.