Community Service Roundup: Initiatives by 7 Retailers and More (October 2016)
By Kristina Hurtig on Oct. 14, 2016CHICAGO -- This community service roundup features donations to food banks and Hurricane Matthew relief efforts, as well as campaigns in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Hope for the Warriors.
Click through to read about these charitable efforts and more from seven convenience-store retailers and two suppliers.
7-Eleven
Irving, Texas-based 7-Eleven and Sheboygan Falls, Wis.-based Johnsonville teamed up to raise funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.The JohnsonvilleBig Taste Grill traveled to Irving and cooked more than 1,500 sausages for the one-day event, which raised $2,200 for St. Jude.
CST Brands
Through its partnership with KSAT Community, San Antonio-based CST Brands’ Corner Store collected nearly $500 and 1,399 pounds of food during a food drive to help the San Antonio Food Bank. The donations will provide 4,226 meals for those in need.
Kum & Go
Throughout October, customers of West Des Moines, Iowa-based Kum & Go can add $1 to their transaction, which will be donated to United Way of Central Iowa. Approximately 50 stores in Polk, Dallas and Warren counties will participate. In addition to the in-store campaign, associates from Kum & Go’s Store Support Center headquarters, Solar Transport and Des Moines Menace Soccer will participate in activities to raise money during the last week of the month. Last year, Kum & Go, together with its customers and associates, donated more than $345,000 to United Way of Central Iowa. This year’s goal is $365,000.
Parker's
Savannah, Ga.-based Parker's debuted a special-edition breast cancer awareness coffee travel cup in October, and 50 cents from every cup sold will benefit Susan G. Komen, a nonprofit organization dedicated to breast cancer research, screening, treatment and education. The refillable coffee cups, designed to coincide with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, are available at all 47 Parker’s locations while supplies last.
QuickChek
QuickChek Corp., Whitehouse Station, N.J., raised $163,002 over four weeks to help support post-9/11 service members and their families through a in-store donation program and charity golf outing. Customers were invited to purchase dog-tag-shaped magnets for $1 to benefit Hope for the Warriors, and more than 110,000 dog tags were purchased.
TravelCenters of America
TravelCenters of America, operator of the TA and Petro Stopping Centers, recently donated $5,000 to the National Military Family Association (NMFA), a nonprofit that works to strengthen and protect military families, to benefit veterans and their families in need. From June 28 to Aug. 5, participating Country Pride and Iron Skillet locations contributed $1 to the NMFA for each entree ordered by professional drivers and guests from a select group of menu items.
United Family
During the United Family’s 100 Days of Giving campaign, the Lubbock, Texas-based grocery, gas station and c-store chain donated $1,000 to a different nonprofit organization each day. United Family, dba United Supermarkets, contributed funds to nonprofit organizations in the 41 communities across the United States that the company serves. The 100 Days of Giving campaign was in celebration of United Family's 100th anniversary.
Hormel
Hormel Foods Corp., Austin, Minn., donated more than 60,000 pounds of products to assist with Hurricane Matthew relief efforts in the United States and Haiti. The donation of shelf-stable products, such as Skippy peanut butter, Spam, Hormel Compleats microwave meals and Hearty Creations, were distributed by Convoy of Hope in the United States and Food for the Poor in Haiti.
Have a community-service announcement of your own to share? Send related news to Kristina Peters at kpeters@winsightmedia.com.