OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. – From free books and bicycles to monetary donations and scholarships, convenience-store chains and NACS are giving back to their communities in remarkable ways.
Here are a few of the many recent examples:
Aloha Petroleum. On behalf of its customers, Aloha Petroleum Ltd., Honolulu, donated $5,260.27 to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Hawaii Chapter, to support the organization’s mission to find a cure for muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular diseases.
CITGO. Houston-based CITGO Petroleum Corp. and PAPCO Inc., Virginia Beach, Va., teamed up to bring “Books and Beats” to the Virginia Beach community. More than 400 students at Seatack Elementary were given free, brand-new books as part of the mobile literacy program. Since the program was founded in 2002, Bess the Book Bus has distributed about 500,000 free books to more than 100,000 children in need.
Lykins Energy Solutions. The family-owned and -operated Lykins Energy Solutions, with headquarters in Clermont County, Ohio, donated eight brand-new bicycles to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Clermont County.
Rapid Refill. Rapid Refill Convenience Stores, part of the family-owned Volta Group, based in Plymouth, Mass., teamed up with the Alzheimer’s Association, Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter, for the fifth year raising $75,500 for their annual Purple Pump Up for Alzheimer’s campaign.
VERC Enterprises. Leo Vercollone, CEO of VERC Enterprises, Duxbury, Mass., was a guest speaker at an October event to kick off the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress’ “Your Next Star” campaign. The campaign was launched in an effort to help employers understand the value of hiring those with Down syndrome, create conversation on the subject, and ultimately change employers’ perceptions and hiring practices for the better.
NACS. At the NACS Show in October, NACS recognized 11 college students who are recipients of a $3,000 scholarship awarded by the NACS Scholarship Program. The recipients, each of whom is currently employed with a NACS retail member company, are Matthew Brien, Delta technician and customer adviser, Delta Sonic Car Wash Systems Inc.; Gregory Campbell, sales associate, RaceTrac Petroleum Inc.; Sahara Dickinson, sales associate, Sheetz Inc.; Briana Dolechek, cashier, The Hub Convenience Store; Matthew Hamrick, pharmacy technician, Giant Eagle; Shannon Hurley, IT coordinator, Cenex Zip Trip (CHS Inc.); Michael Jones, district leader, Indianapolis Market, GetGo/Giant Eagle; Kevin Kautzman, district supervisor, staffing and training manager, Kum & Go; Loretta Kennis, quality assurance field specialist, Sheetz Inc.; Gyasi McClarence, point-of-sale analyst, Cumberland Farms Gulf Group; and Derek Trout, shift leader, Bobby & Steve's Auto World.
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