ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Convenience stores contributed or collected nearly $1 billion to charities over the past year, according to a national survey of retailers released by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS).
More than 97% of convenience store companies responding to the survey say they donate to charities. The median charitable contribution per store is $4,100 in direct contributions and $2,500 in donations collected. This means that, as an industry, the 154,195 c-stores in the United States contribute or collect approximately $990 million a year to benefit charities.
Nearly two-thirds of all convenience retailers (64%) say they support five or more charities in their communities. And more than four in five (83%) companies say they have been engaged in community giving for more than a decade.
Nearly nine in 10 (88%) donate to local charities such as church groups, shelters, health-related organizations and other non-sports groups. More than three in four (76%) contribute to youth sports and activities and more than two-thirds (69%) contribute to local schools via the Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) and other fundraising activities.
Four in five convenience store companies (80%) say they have made donations when there was a specific emergency or crisis in the community. “We are the stores that people turn to in crisis,” said Steve Williams with Bobby & Steve’s Auto World, Minneapolis.
More than three in five (62%) retailers say they make local product and food donations for charity events and 53% provide products to shelters to support those in need.
Convenience retailers stressed the importance of local contributions that help the immediate community they serve. Landhope Farms, Kennett Square, Pa., donates a portion of sales from its food program during certain months to support a local charity. “This makes our customers and associates feel good because everyone knows the money is going to a great local cause that helps people in our immediate area,” said the company’s Director of Operations Dennis McCartney.
Retailers also noted that their locations in the community also make them convenient places for groups to hold events: 60% allow their property to be used by local groups for fundraising events.
They also say that they receive donation requests on a regular basis and tend to select those that are most appropriate for the community. Overall, 60% examine requests on a case-by-case basis, while 8% develop a set amount that they contribute to causes annually.
“Our industry must choose wisely,” noted Bob Honkala from Bud’s CITGO, Somonauk, Ill., which donates to a broad array of charities.
“Choose what fits your company best,” said Jay Ricker with Ricker’s, Anderson, Ind., which contributes to a number of local and national causes.
A majority of consumers say that they would be more likely to shop at a convenience store if that store participated in local community projects or donated to charitable causes (56%), up from the 51% who said the same in September 2015. Two in three (67%) consumers with children say they would be more likely to shop at a c-store that contributed to local community or charitable causes.
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