CHICAGO — In the wake of Hurricane Ian, several convenience-store retailers developed initiatives to give back to their communities. Charitable actions included donations to relief funds and free dispensed beverages for power line workers, among many more efforts.
Click through to find out more about efforts from Wawa, RaceTrac and more during the hurricane. ...
Wawa, Wawa, Pa., and the Wawa Foundation contributed $500,000 to the Florida Disaster Fund, Florida’s official private fund established to provide financial assistance to communities in times of emergency.
The c-store chain also donated free coffee and fountain beverages to first responders in Florida, including police, fire EMT and the National Guard.
Customers have donated more than $130,000 to the American Red Cross through donations of $1, $3 or $5 added to their Wawa purchase at checkout. The Wawa Foundation plans to match the first $250,000 in customer contributions.
“As a member of the Florida community for more than a decade, we believe Wawa has a responsibility to give back and provide much needed support for our Florida friends and neighbors during times of need,” said Chris Gheysens, Wawa president and CEO. “While recovery efforts continue, Wawa will do everything in our power to help our community and remain stocked with essential food and fuel during these challenging times. We thank our heroic first responders and friendly neighbors for doing their part to support our communities and get us back and running again.”
RaceTrac Petroleum, Atlanta, extended its free coffee and fountain drink program—which is normally offered to first responders all year—to power utility crews. Additionally, in the event there was a line for fuel, fuel priority was offered to first responders and power utility crews in all areas affected by the storm.
RaceTrac also donated $50,000 to the Florida Disaster Fund and $50,000 plus bottled water to the Southwest Florida Emergency Relief Fund.
Chevron Corp., San Ramon, Calif., contributed $200,000 to First Lady DeSantis Volunteer Florida Foundation. It also donated $150,000 to Team Rubicon and $75,000 each to the Red Cross and the Fuel Relief Fund.
The company will match qualifying donations to hurricane relief efforts made by employees and retirees and well as prove financial contributions to organizations where employees volunteer.
Parkland Corp., Calgary, Alberta, “was quick to respond to its people and customers. Our teams hit the ground running, ready to support cleanups and restoration efforts in our communities,” the company said on Twitter.
On Sept. 30, Parkland's Southeast Regional Operating Center donated 110 gallons of fuel to Emergency Culinary Solutions in response to Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers, Fla. The fuel was used to help stand up a food kitchen at a local synagogue, Chabad Lubavitch. The donated fuel was enough to power a generator for two days, fueling hundreds of meals to the local community.
“To us, it's 110 gallons. To the community, it's hundreds of warm meals for people in need,” Jorge Pradilla, general manager of the company's regional operating center, said on LinkedIn.
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