Held July 24 each year, 24/7 Day highlights the partnership between first responders and convenience stores. This year, more than 30,000 convenience stores operated by independents and chains of all sizes are participating.
Organized by the NACS Foundation, the event also helps raise awareness and donations for the Red Cross and spotlights the c-store industry's important role in supporting disaster relief and crisis situations.
A sampling:
- EG America store brands will give a free coffee (hot or iced), fountain or frozen beverage, any size, to on-duty police, fire, EMT, military personnel, department of corrections officers and nurses in uniform. Brands include Cumberland Farms, Fastrac, Turkey Hill, Certified Oil, Loaf N' Jug, Kwik Shop, Quik Stop, Tom Thumb, Sprint and Minit Mart. "This event provides a way for our 1,700 stores to express our gratitude to first responders and medical professionals for their selfless service in helping us in times of need," said Nick Unkovic, president of Westborough, Massachusetts-based EG America.
- The Hub, Dickinson, North Dakota, is giving a free fountain, frozen or coffee beverage in any size to those in uniform or with their badge/ID.
- Yesway and Allsup’s stores are offering a free dispensed beverage or coffee in any size, as well as a complimentary bag of 2.75-ounce Yesway potato chips, to firefighters, doctors, nurses, health practitioners, Red Cross volunteers and 911 professionals in uniform or with a badge. Fort Worth, Texas-based Yesway also encourages community members to take part by sharing real stories and appreciation for hometown heroes on social media using the hashtag #247Day.
- At Y-Not Stop, the brand of St. Romain Oil, Mansura, Louisiana, first responders in uniform or with an ID/badge will receive one free two-piece chicken tender dinner, including small wedges and any size fountain drink.
- Huck’s Food & Fuel, the brand of Martin & Bayley, Carmi, Illinois, is offering a free fountain, frozen or coffee beverage in any size to those in uniform or with their badge/ID.
- Horizon Fuel Center, Valley Center, California, is giving first responders a cup of coffee or fountain drink and a Qdoba entree.
- Golden Pantry Food Stores, Watkinsville, Georgia, is giving free coffee to first responders in uniform or with valid ID.
- At TXB, based in Spicewood, Texas, doctors, nurses, EMTs, police, county sheriffs, highway patrol, border patrol, firefighters, 911 dispatchers and Red Cross volunteers can choose one of the following TXB-branded items: 20-ounce mug, T-shirt, hat, rehydration and jerky bag, coffee (ground bag or K-Cup box) or tote bag.
- Twice Daily and Sudden Service convenience stores, Nashville, Tennessee, will offer a free medium fountain drink or coffee to all first responders in uniform or who show their badge.
- High’s, a brand of Carroll Independent Fuels, Baltimore, will give a free any size fountain or coffee to any first responder in uniform or wearing a badge, including police, fire, EMTs, doctors, nurses, health practitioners, 911 professionals and Red Cross volunteers.
- Wawa, based in Wawa, Pennsylvania, will distribute 18,000 free coffee coupons and 18,000 free doughnut coupons to volunteers across the chain.
Among the many retailers participating on a full or limited basis are 1 Stop, 7-Eleven and DK, Admiral, Allsup’s, Apple Market, Bread & Butter Shop, BreadBox, Casey’s General Stores, Certified Oil, CFCA, Corner Mart, Cumberland Farms, Dixie Mart, Enmarket, Express Stop, ExtraMile, E-Z Mart, fas mart, fastmarket, Fastrac, Flash Market, Garrett’s Family Market and Rapid Refill Convenience Stores, G&M Food Mart, Handy Mart, High's, Jaco Oil/Fastrip, JBDewar Inc./Pride Pacific, Jetz, Jiffi Stop, Jiffy Stop Food Marts, Kum & Go, Kwik Shop, Lemmen, Li’l Cricket, Loaf N’ Jug, Loop Neighborhood Market, Market Express, Minit Mart, Next Door Store, OnCue, Pride, Quarles, Quik Stop, R Store, RaceTrac, Roadrunner Markets, Rose Mart, Rutter’s, Scotchman, Sheetz, shore stop, Sprint, St. Romain Oil Co./Y-Not Stop, The Convenience Group, The Hub Convenience Stores, The Markets of Tiger Fuel Co., Tom Thumb, Town Star, TXB, Turkey Hill, Uncle’s, Village Pantry, Yesway and Young’s.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.