Big Oil Gives Back During COVID-19 Pandemic
By Samantha Oller on Apr. 20, 2020CHICAGO — Many of the largest U.S. fuel producers have stepped up their donations and support to local communities, healthcare workers and first responders during the COVID-19 pandemic. They include …
Shell
Shell Oil Products, Houston, which has approximately 14,000 branded locations in the United States, has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic with measures including:
- In three states, Shell’s mobile fueling service—Shell TapUp—is providing fuel to Meals on Wheels programs and to the Houston Police Department.
- Shell is supplying healthcare workers in Louisiana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Washington with access to medical supplies.
- It is supporting meal distribution to children who are on free and reduced lunch programs, as well as to senior citizens, first responders and hospital workers in markets that include Houston, West Texas and the greater New Orleans area, where it has also donated food to Second Harvest of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana.
- The company has provided laptops to students and access to online curriculums to support school districts that have shifted to online learning.
- Shell is also matching employee donations to support groups that are focused on COVID-19 relief.
ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil, Irving, Texas, which has nearly 12,000 Exxon- and Mobil-branded sites in the United States, has made a several charitable moves during the pandemic:
- Its refinery in Baton Rouge, La., has reimbursed 30,000 gallons of fuel for emergency response vehicles and donated gasoline gift cards to healthcare workers in the area
- ExxonMobil, said to be the largest producer of isopropyl alcohol, which is used in disinfectants and hand sanitizer, has donated the chemical to the state of Louisiana for its use in the manufacture of hand sanitizer.
- As a major manufacturer of specialized polypropylene, which is used in medical masks and gowns, ExxonMobil has teamed up with the Global Center for Medical Innovation to design and manufacture reusable personal protection equipment for healthcare workers.
- ExxonMobil has provided more than $600,000 in financial support and medical supplies to hospitals and agencies, school districts and local food banks where many of its employees live and work in Houston, Baton Rouge and the Permian Basin in Texas.
- In New Mexico, ExxonMobil donated $100,000 to the Carlsbad Municipal School District to support online learning.
Chevron
Chevron, San Ramos, Calif., which has more than 7,800 Chevron and Texaco branded sites in the United States, has donated $1 million in gift cards to first responders and food banks as part of more than $12 million earmarked for global COVID-19 support. The gift cards are being given to nonprofit groups in Chevron’s major operating areas, including around its four U.S. refineries, in major retail markets and around its field operations.
Chevron has also donated $500,000 to DonorsChoose’s Keep Kids Learning initiative, which provides grants to teachers to purchase remote-learning supplies for students, and supported food banks in California, Colorado, New Mexico, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Texas and West Virginia.
Chevron also donated 100,000 surgical masks to local hospitals in California. The Fab Lab Network, a community of fabricators, artists, scientists and engineers of which Chevron is a financial supporter, plans to make more than 20,000 face shields and masks for hospitals, nursing homes and first responders.
Chevron has also donated to community relief efforts, including the Greater Houston COVID-19 Recovery Fund in Texas and the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce in Mississippi.
BP
In early April, Houston-based BP, which has more than 6,600 BP and Amoco-branded sites in the United States and more than 1,000 Arco/ampm locations, announced it was offering up to $2 million in free coffee, fountain drinks or hot dogs, as well as fuel discounts, to first responders and healthcare workers.
All BP and Amoco branded sites in the United States offered the 50-cent-per-gallon fuel discounts. After registering at a dedicated web site, eligible customers received a code via text or email to use on their next fill-up. BP said it planned to offer codes until they were “exhausted.”
The free beverage and food offers were being offered at BP’s ampm stores in Washington, Oregon, Nevada, California and Arizona. To receive the discounts, customers are asked to show their official identification.
BP and ampm have been promoting the offers at branded locations and their web sites, on social media and via email to members of the BPme Rewards loyalty program. BP also encouraged customers to share an informational link about the offers on social media and include a personal “thank you” to hospital workers and first responders with the hashtags #bpsupportslocalheroes or #giveTMGS.
Marathon Petroleum
Marathon Petroleum Corp., Findlay, Ohio, which owns the Speedway retail network of about 3,900 stores, has donated personal protective equipment to healthcare workers. It includes more than 575,000 N95 respirator masks, which were distributed to 45 hospitals and other healthcare organizations in 20 states. MPC donated masks from its internal supply, which it had created as part of its own pandemic response plan.
MPC’s Marathon Petroleum Foundation also made a $1 million donation to the American Red Cross to help support disaster relief efforts and support during the COVID-19 pandemic.