UPDATE: The Wawa Foundation, as of April 21, has donated $150,000 to 21 different Feeding America Food Bank Partners through its COVID-19 Emergency Food Distribution Fund. The food banks—located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginian, Florida and Washington D.C.—will each receive funds ranging from $1,000 to $34,000 to address hunger crises in their communities.
Wawa will also donate an additional $250,000 for food and necessary supplies to communities impacted by COVID-19 due to school closures, employment disruptions and health risks. The $150,000 being distributed represents the first wave of the funds in action. As of April 21, a remainder of $100,000 COVID-19 funds are available for food banks and non-profits to apply for. Interested non-profit organizations applying for the remainder of $100,000 in COVID-19 funds can do so through Wawa’s website.
WAWA, Pa. — Convenience-store retailer Wawa Inc. has donated a combined $30,000 to food banks through The Wawa Foundation Emergency Food Distribution Fund, a new program that supports nonprofit organizations during the coronavirus pandemic.
Wawa’s funds go toward purchasing additional food and supporting food distribution efforts in its service areas, the company said. Food banks or nonprofit organizations supporting food distribution in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington, D.C., are eligible for these funds.
The food banks that have received funds so far include:
- Philabundance: Delaware Valley's largest food bank, which has received $15,000 to assist efforts to fulfill the city's unforeseen funding gap to provide emergency meal boxes to local families in need.
- The Food Bank of Delaware: A statewide hunger relief organization that has received $10,000 to fund meal boxes for low-income families, children on the weekend and to help with the costs associated with three drive-thru mobile pantries.
- Feeding South Florida: A hunger relief organization that serves a quarter of the state’s food-insecure population. It has received $5,000 to fund food and supplies needed to meet the increased demand for resources.
The Wawa Foundation is accepting applications until funds are completely distributed. To apply, visit thewawafoundation.org.
Wawa has enacted a handful of initiatives to help combat the coronavirus pandemic. The company has altered its self-serve coffee, fountain beverage and Icee drink programs to strictly be served by an associate and is individually bagging all self-serve bakery products for customers. Also, Wawa has enhanced its paid-time-off (PTO) policies to provide more flexibility and support to its employees during the crisis. The chain has increased the frequency of cleaning high-touch surfaces, is providing hand sanitizer for associates and customers and has strengthened its supply chain to ensure its stores remain stocked.
Wawa’s existing partnership with the Red Cross has allowed it to provide customers and employees with health and safety tips to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Wawa has made tip sheets available both online and in its stores.
Wawa, based in Wawa, Pa., has more than 870 c-stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Florida. The company is No. 10 on the Top 40 update to CSP’s 2019 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by number of retail outlets. CSP will release the complete 2020 list in June.
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