Community Service Roundup, May 2021
By Hannah Hammond on Jun. 11, 2021CHICAGO — This month’s community service roundup features five convenience-store retailers and two suppliers.
Whether it’s giving free coffee to veterans or donating to a local children’s hospital, c-stores are finding ways to give back to their communities. Click through to see more…
Sheetz
Sheetz, Altoona, Pa., is helping to feeding children and adults in need through its Get a Meal, Give a Meal campaign, Sheetz will donate one meal for every 6-inch sub sold and two meals for every 12-inch sub sold to local Feeding America member food banks. The campaign will take place on Tuesdays through June at the c-store chain’s 621 locations.
The meals that Sheetz will be donating will equate to a monetary donation to Feeding America: $1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local member food banks.
Sheetz is also fighting hunger though its Made-to-Share program, which rescues food from its stores and donates it to Feeding America food banks. These donations include ready-to-eat items like sandwiches, wraps and salads and healthy snacking options like fruit, vegetables and yogurt. It also provides a donation to a Feeding America food bank at every new store opening.
Mirabito Convenience Stores
Mirabito Convenience Stores, Binghamton, N.Y., gave free coffee to all veterans and active duty military personnel at participating locations throughout Central New York and Northeastern Pennsylvania over Memorial Day weekend.
“As we all celebrate Memorial Day this long weekend, it is important to remember the sacrifices that have been made, both past and present, to afford us the freedoms we enjoy in this great country,” said Joe Mirabito, chairman and CEO of Mirabito Convenience Stores. “We are very grateful to the men and women who protect us each and every day.”
Wawa
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) announced the establishment of the Richard D. Wood Jr. Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment. The center is named after the chairperson emeritus of Wawa, a Wawa, Pa.-based c-store chain founded by the Wood family.
Through a gift of $25 million, the funding will support the next generation of fetal medicine breakthroughs, accelerate research and build the pipeline of future talent in fetal medicine, according to the hospital.
“Supporting the mission of CHOP has long been a part of the Wood family and Wawa DNA, and we are sincerely honored to continue supporting the hospital’s mission through the Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment,” said Richard D. Wood Jr.
The Wood family and Wawa have been partners with and champions of the hospital for more than 165 years, Madeline Bell, president and CEO of CHOP, said.
“This generous investment from the Wood family will undoubtedly help advance the translation of promising science into new therapies that will benefit our tiniest patients,” she said.
GetGo Café and Market
GetGo Café and Market, part of Giant Eagle’s Convenience Division, announced that Pittsburgh-area artist Ashanté Josey is the winner of its Spiked Slushes Cup Design Artwork Contest.
Josey’s winning design will be featured on Spiked Slushies cups later this summer at 46 GetGo locations across Pennsylvania and Ohio.
“The GetGo team appreciates the beauty art brings to our communities we live and work in and we’re proud to be able to bring some of that to our guests this summer through Ashante’s art,” said Jon Cox, GetGo vice president and chief merchant. “As we look to the future, we’re also excited to expand our relationship with the arts community in partnership with the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council.”
GetGo, Pittsburgh, is also giving the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council a $5,000 donation to support programing.
Alta Convenience
Alta Convenience, Denver, raised $40,000 for Wings for Life during its March and April promotion. Customers could purchase a paper “red wing” with their name on it to be posed around the store.
The Wings for Life research foundation aims to find cures and improve the quality of life for people suffering from traumatic spinal injury. Every year, at least 250,000 people sustain a spinal cord injury, followed by paralysis, according to the non-profit.
McLane Co.
C-store distributor McLane Co., Temple, Texas, supported veterans for their service during Military Appreciation Month in May.
The company launched a Registered Driver Apprenticeship Program featuring a veteran initiative, Warries to Wheels, two years ago. The program is GI Bill-approved and is designed to attract and provide military veterans an “earn while you learn” training model that uses their military training experience to move into a career in transportation, McLane said.
McLane also partners with the Department of Army/Fort Hood that offers transitioning service members a nine-week training experience where they learn the fundamentals of warehouse operations.
“Approximately 9% of our teammates self-identify as veterans at McLane,” said Jennifer Rojas Clouse, Equal Opportunity Employment (EEO) compliance and inclusion manager. “We have been in business for more than 126 years and offer our teammates the opportunity to enjoy long, stable careers. The company is growing and has management, warehouse and driver positions available nationwide."
Jarritos
Authentic Mexican soda maker Jarritos is launching the Jarritos Flavored By Culture Education Fund to financially support food truck owners, workers and their families with their academic pursuits.
Jarritos, El Paso, Texas, will select three food truck owners and employees who apply to receive a one-time gift of $5,000, which can be applied toward tuition and related expenses.
There are more than 24,000 food trucks in the country, employing more than 29,000 people, according to Jarritos.
“We are passionate about supporting educational initiatives and believe in continued learning opportunities for those who help keep our communities tightly knit by celebrating food and beverages flavored by culture,” said Delamare.