Community Service Roundup, November 2022
By Rachel Gignac on Dec. 06, 2022CHICAGO — November was a month for giving, with donations from 16 c-store chains and one fuel providers to charities across the country.
Donations went toward food banks, support for veterans, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and more.
Find out more about how retailers and suppliers fundraised this November …
Maverik
Maverik Inc., Salt Lake City, began its Round Up Your Change campaign with a $50,000 donation to Feeding America. Ninety percent of Maverik’s initial donation was distributed to Feeding America member food banks in communities where Maverik operates, and the remaining funds were donated to the Feeding America national organization, which provides support, expertise and capacity building to the food bank network.
The campaign invites customers to round up their in-store cash and credit transactions to the nearest dollar or more through Dec. 15.
GPM Investments, Circle K, Graham C-Stores, Graham Enterprises and Florida Turnpike Service
GPM Investments LLC, Richmond, Va., Circle K, Laval, Quebec, Graham C-Stores and Graham Enterprises, Vernon Hills, Ill., and Florida Turnpike Services , Pompano Beach, Fla., participated in the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s (MDA) holiday campaign.
Retailers invited customers to participate in the campaign by donating at checkout or rounding up their purchase. The campaign raised funds to accelerate research, advance care and advocate for the support of families living with muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and related neuromuscular diseases.
- GPM Investments customers can round up purchases or donate $1 or more to receive a buy 1, get 1 free coupon for Hi-Chew and a 20-ounce bottle of 7up and Canada Dry family beverages through Dec. 16.
- Circle K participated throughout November.
- Graham C-Stores is participating from through Jan. 1 and Graham Enterprise is participating through Dec. 31.
- Florida Turnpike Services will do a scan sheet program through Jan. 1.
Casey’s
Casey’s General Stores, Ankeny, Iowa, raised funds for Hope For The Warriors (HOPE) and Children of Fallen Patriots by asking customers to round up their purchases, with PepsiCo’s support.
Children of Fallen Patriots helps service members and their families restore a sense of self, family and hope through comprehensive support programs. HOPE provides assistance, resources and scholarships to children of military families who have lost a parent in the line of duty.
In addition to rounding up purchases in-store, guests also donated to this year’s campaign when ordering from Casey’s online. Service members received a free cup of freshly brewed coffee at Casey’s stores on Veterans Day.
Casey’s also donated $60,000 in partnership with Gatorade to three youth sports organizations: RiverSport Foundation, Oklahoma City, Center City Youth Sports Program, Knoxville, Tenn., and The Mattie Rhodes Center, Kansas City, Mo. The funding provides $20,000 to each of the organizations for equipment and resources to better serve youth in underserved communities.
7-Eleven
7-Eleven Inc., Irving, Texass, revealed a holiday fundraising campaign with Children's Miracle Network Hospitals (CMN Hospitals) at participating 7-Eleven, Speedway and Stripes stores. Through Jan. 10, customers are invited to round up their purchase at checkout or donate $1 to help support more than 105 member hospitals in communities across the country.
Kum & Go
Kum & Go, Des Moines, Iowa, part of Krause Group, raised funds for United Way of Central Iowa.
The month-long store campaign took place in Central Iowa Kum & Go locations which engaged store associates and encouraged customers to donate to United Way at checkout. More than 50 stores in Polk, Dallas and Warren counties participated and raised more than $41,000 in donations.
TravelCenters of America
TravelCenters of America (TA), Westlake, Ohio, partnered with Mobil Delvac oil to donate $50,000 to Folds of Honor, an organization providing educational scholarships for children and spouses of fallen or disabled American military service members and first responders.
Additionally, TA is launching a round-up campaign to support the Special Operators Transition Foundation (SOTF), an organization dedicated to assisting Special Operations Forces veterans with the transition from military service into their next career. Customers at participating TA, Petro and TA Express locations had the opportunity to round up their purchase to the nearest dollar, with the difference donated directly to SOTF.
TA also continued its tradition of inviting all active-duty military, veterans and reservists to enjoy a complimentary meal on Veterans Day at company-owned quick-service and full-service restaurants nationwide.
QuickChek
QuickChek, Whitehouse Station, N.J., helped feed area hungry families in need by donating 25 cents for every Thanksgiving Everyday sub sandwich it sold in November to the Check-Out Hunger fundraising campaign, benefiting those in need ahead of and during the upcoming holidays.
QuickChek has raised $920,055 for local food banks during the eight years it has been a Check-Out Hunger campaign partner.
Parker's
Parker Cos., Savannah, Ga., donated $100,000 in matching funds through the Parker’s Community Fund to support Union Mission’s Parker’s House, which provides emergency housing and comprehensive services for women experiencing homelessness in Savannah, Ga.
The latest Parker’s Community Fund donation supplemented a $250,000 gift, bringing the total Parker’s House donation to $350,000.
Parker’s also donated $77,688 to Lowcountry Food Bank through the company’s inaugural round-up campaign, which encouraged customers to round up their purchases to the nearest dollar. Based in Charleston, S.C., the Lowcountry Food Bank serves food-insecure individuals through nearly 300 community partners, including a network of food pantries, on-site meal programs, school programs, senior programs, veteran’s groups and shelters.
In another round-up campaign, Parker’s donated $94,659 to America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia, which serves as the food safety net for tens of thousands of children, senior citizens, low-income families and people with disabilities who are at risk for hunger throughout Coastal Georgia.
High’s
High’s, a Carroll Independent Fuel LLC brand based in Baltimore, raised more than $100,000 to support the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. The funds were raised through two campaigns—the 16th Annual Doug Miller, Sr. Golf Tournament and the High’s Keep the Change round-up program.
EG America
EG America, Westborough, Mass., launched its annual fundraising campaign for Disabled American Veterans (DAV). Donations helped DAV ensure that injured and ill veterans could access the full range of benefits available to them.
In November, guests donated $1, $5 or an amount of their choosing to DAV during checkout. For every $1 donated, DAV delivered $179 in essential benefits for veterans, helping them find employment opportunities, get transportation to medical appointments and receive assistance during times of disaster.
The convenience stores that participated in the promotion included Cumberland Farms, Certified Oil, Fastrac, Kwik Shop, Loaf ‘N Jug, Minit Mart, Quik Stop, Sprint Food Stores, Tom Thumb and Turkey Hill.
Sinclair Oil
Sinclair Oil, Salt Lake City, raised nearly $1 million through its Fueling Folds of Honor campaign. The organization supports children and spouses of fallen or disabled veterans and first responders by providing educational scholarships.
A portion of fuel purchased at participating Sinclair stations was set aside for Folds of Honor through the support of Sinclair-branded retail partners and Sinclair Oil customers. It is estimated that more than 180 educational scholarships of $5,000 each will go to families of fallen veterans in areas served by Sinclair stations.
Rutter’s
Rutter’s Children’s Charities, York, Pa., donated $20,000 to PA Wounded Warriors in honor of Veteran’s Day.
PA Wounded Warriors is an independent statewide non-profit organization providing support to Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors, Veterans in crisis and their families. The organization provides emergency financial assistance to Veterans to help pay for housing, utilities, transportation, medical and other expenses.
Rutter’s also began its $100k for the Holidays Donation Giveaway, where four local charities will receive $25,000 each. The nomination period is closed, and winners will be announced in December.
Enmarket
Enmarket, Savannah, Ga., raised more than $130,000 in a company-wide initiative across Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina by encouraging customers to donate at check-out to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).
Throughout the last 10 years, Enmarket has donated $1 million for LLS’s Light The Night campaign, funding innovative research and support for blood cancer patients.
Love’s Travel Stops
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores, Oklahoma City, donated $1.5 million to United Way this year.
For this year’s campaign, employees raised more than $650,000 for the United Way of Central Oklahoma. Employees pledged funds and participated in virtual auctions and raffles in addition to Love’s contributing a 50% match of all employee donations.
Love’s also participated in Giving Tuesday by donating $25,000 to Casa Oklahoma City, Inc., a program that provides trained volunteers to be champions for the individualized best interests of children in foster care.
Cenex
Cenex, a fuel provider based in Inver Grove Heights, Minn., donated a $25,000 Hometown Pride grant to the Backus Community Cafe. Backus Community Cafe was nominated for its dedication to providing an accessible solution to local food insecurity while bringing neighbors together and strengthening community connections.
Cenex provides fuels to more than 1,400 locally owned convenience-store locations across 19 states. Cenex fuels, lubricants, propane and renewable energy products power homes, businesses and communities.