WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. -- QuickChek Corp. has raised $124,875 in six weeks to help support military veterans living in New Jersey and New York communities through a recent in-store donation program.
Store customers purchased dog-tag shaped magnets for $1 or donated their loose change at store check-out counters to benefit the Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), whose mission is to improve the lives of U.S. veterans of these two wars and their families. The awareness campaign ran during the six-week period from Oct. 5, 2013, through Nov. 16, 2013, to coincide with Veterans Day.
The chain held a donation presentation on Feb. 10 at a QuickChek located in Bayonne, N.J., which participated in the program and is a prototype of the company's newer stores.
The program has been warmly embraced by QuickChek store leaders, customers in two states and the veterans group.
"We pride ourselves in being active members of the communities we serve and we're pleased to honor and support our military veterans who give so much of themselves," said QuickChek CEO Dean Durling, whose privately owned and operated company has 138 retail locations throughout New Jersey and New York's Hudson Valley.
This was the second year in which the Whitehouse Station, N.J.-based convenience store chain has partnered with the IAVA. In 2012, QuickChek raised $71,762 between Memorial Day and July 4, far surpassing its initial goal of $50,000. The two-year total raised during these awareness promotions is $196,637.
"We are proud to team with QuickChek to raise critical awareness and support for our veterans," said IAVA founder and CEO Paul Rieckhoff, an Iraq veteran. "Private-nonprofit partnerships are game changers in supporting veterans in towns and cities across the country. Our partners make innovative contributions that help veterans in so many meaningful ways, including by keeping all IAVA programs and events free to vets."
Founded in 2004, the New York City-based IAVA is an organization for new veterans and their families, with nearly 300,000 members and supporters nationwide. The IAVA is a 21st century veterans' organization dedicated to standing with the 2.6 million veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan from their first day home through the rest of their lives.
"We strive to be the neighborhood shopping destination close to where our customers live and work," said Durling, whose company's commitment to "total customer dedication" enables it to be part of the fabric of the communities in which the company has stores. "As a good neighbor, we believe in giving back where we can to help those in need."
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