Community Service Roundup, October 2021
By Hannah Hammond on Nov. 08, 2021CHICAGO —This month’s community service roundup features six convenience stores and one supplier that gave back in October.
Click through to see what initiatives c-stores took part in…
Casey’s General Stores
Casey’s, Ankeny, Iowa, has opened its Cash for Classrooms grant program and is accepting applications through Nov. 20. In its second year, the grant program supports products and initiatives taking place at K-12 public and non-profit private schools.
Grant requests can range from $3,000 to $50,000 and can be used for physical improvements, material needs, teacher support and community engagement initiatives.
“Casey’s purpose is to make life better for our communities and guests every day. The Cash for Classrooms grant program is a significant way that we deliver on this purpose by helping students, teachers and families in our backyard,” said Katie Petru, director of communications and community. “Last year we were able to provide $1 million for 99 grants that had a real impact in schools. From providing books to students over the summer break, to updating gymnasiums and increasing access to different learning opportunities, we are inspired to help even more students this year.”
The deadline to apply is Nov. 30, and Casey's will award grants in February and March.
Wawa
Wawa, Wawa, Pa., found several ways to give back to its communities in October.
Wawa and the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) entered a multi-year sponsorship agreement recognizing the store as an official partner. Wawa will serve as the presenting sponsor of the boys and girls state soccer championships. Wawa will also provide exclusive in-store discount days, spotlight coaches, recognize a Community Athlete of the Season and engage local high school athletes and staff to participate in signature “Hoagies for Heroes” competitions at New Jersey grand openings. As part of these events, Wawa will provide $1,000 donation to each participating athletic department.
Wawa also launched a Breast Cancer Awareness Fund in October, formed to provide financial assistance to nonprofits helping patients and families meet basic needs during active breast cancer treatments and to organizations advancing prevention methods or providing access, research or treatment. The fund has $200,000 available to be distributed to selected nonprofits.
Finally, in October Wawa announced its Skip the Bag for Good initiative. As Philadelphia’s ban on single-use plastic bags goes into effect for all retailers, Wawa is launching the campaign to make the transition away from single-use plastic bags easy. The chain gave 1,000 free reusable bags, with a purchase, in every Philadelphia store on Oct. 1. After that, Wawa will offer 25-cent reusable bags.
Global Partners
Global Partners, Waltham, Mass., is sponsoring Mark and Mocha’s Roll/Stroll to Combat Hunger.
Mark Roberts, of Stow, Mass., on Sept. 18 started to roll across Massachusetts in his wheelchair to raise awareness and funds to combat hunger. He and his 6-year-old labradoodle Mocha completed the journey on Nov. 7. The project, called 4Paws 4Wheels 4Hunger, raised $100,000 and proceeds will go to Save the Children and four Massachusetts food banks.
Global Partners sponsored the fourth week of the roll/stroll as Roberts made his way through the Waltham area from Westborough to Brookline, and past Global’s headquarters.
As part of Global’s sponsorship, the company:
- Launched an employee giving campaign and provided a 1:1 match of all employee gifts up to $2,500.
- Ran a donation drive at Global’s 107 retail stations including Alltown Fresh, Alltown, Honey Farms, XtraMart and Gulf Express.
- Provided Alltown Fresh provisions for Mark, Mocha and their team during their sponsored week.
- Invited Global employees to walk along during the fourth week.
Through this initiative, Global Partner's Massachusetts retail stores collected more than $13,500, employees donated $2,505, which was matched by the company, and J. Polep Distribution Services donated $2,500.
The demand for food assistance across Massachusetts grew significantly with the onset of the pandemic, and is till above pre-pandemic levels, Global Partners said.
“There is an ever-increasing demand on hunger organizations across the state and around the world. Now, more than ever, we need to do what we can to help feed our neighbors. I’m thrilled Global Partners is joining me to raise funds and awareness to fight food-insecurity,” Roberts said.
Also in October, Global Partners wrapped up Shell’s 2021 Giving Pump Campaign, donating $1,800 to the Genesis Foundation for Children. The foundation has programs and services that treat patients with rate diseases and genetic disorders from conception and pregnancy through adulthood.
Parker Corp.
Parker Corp., Savannah, Ga., which operates Parker’s Market and Parker’s Market-Urban Gourmet, raised $138,890 at its annual Fueling the Community Golf Tournament, held Oct. 12. The money supports education, healthcare and other causes in coastal Georgia and South Carolina.
“We look forward to this event all year and deeply appreciate the generous support from the sponsors and the players,” said Parker’s founder and CEO Greg Parker. “We will use the revenue from this tournament to make a positive impact in communities across our corporate footprint, from Jesup, Ga. to Moncks Corner, S.C.”
The Parker’s Fueling the Community charitable initiative started in 2011 with a mission to give back to every community where Parker’s does business. Through the program, Parker’s donates a portion of every gallon of gas sold on the first Wednesday of each month at all Parker’s locations to schools across Georgia and South Carolina. The funds raised by the golf tournament supplements these monthly donations to help Parker’s support education and healthcare initiatives throughout the region.
Stewart’s Shops
Stewart’s Shops, Ballston Spa, N.Y., highlighted organizations it works with that help individuals with Down Syndrome for Down Syndrome Awareness Month in October.
Stewart’s Shops has supported The Down Syndrome Association of the Hudson Valley for 14 years. Its most recent donation helps support a variety of recreation and therapy programs for members.
The Down Syndrome AIM High Resource Center offers support programs, educational services, social events, resources and more for families, professionals and individuals. Stewart’s Shop has supported them for 13 years, most recently donating to their “Buddy Walk” and to support their “Welcome Baby” program.
Stewart’s also supports Special Olympics New York, which provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Stewart’s has supported this organization for the last 21 years.
The Wills Group
The Wills Group, La Plata, Md., celebrated its c-store brand Dash In’s renewed commitment to community engagement with recent donations at store openings.
Dash In hosted grand openings at two new locations in Clinton and Lanham, Md., in September and October. At the grand openings, more than $40,000 in grants were distributed to the Capital Area Food Bank, Clinton and Lanham high schools and to Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation. This includes a $30,000 grant to help improve Tanglewood Park, an outdoor space around the corner from the Clinton Dash In.
“At Dash In, we have taken time this past year to work with our parent company, the Wills Group, to address near-term needs during the pandemic with a big part of our commitment being more than $1.6 million in grants distributed to local food banks during the past 18 months,” said Blackie Wills III, president and COO of the Wills Group. “We’re proud of that commitment and we’re ready to do more. Outdoor spaces have emerged as an important resource for communities during the pandemic and at Dash In we’re going to work with communities to celebrate and improve those spaces.”
Sparkling Ice Beverages
Sparkling Ice, a Preston, Wash.-based Talking Rain Beverage Co. brand, is spreading holiday cheer through its new initiative, Cheers to Giving. The campaign aims to celebrate non-profits that make a difference in their communities by inviting organizations and its supporters to share stories of their impact for a chance to be selected as one of the three winners to receive a $50,000 donation form Talking Rain.
Through Nov. 19, people can nominate a 501 (c)(3) charity to receive a donation. The winners will be announced mid-December. For each nomination, participants can earn Sparkling Ice Rewards points that can be redeemed for various prizes.
“We’re always inspired by the charitable work and the impact that our non-profits have every day in local communities across the country,” said Nina Morrison, senior vice president of community experience at Talking Rain. “Through Cheers to Giving, we want to show our support and appreciation for charities nationwide so they can continue to give back to those in need during the holiday giving season and beyond.”