Community Service Roundup, April 2020
By Hannah Hammond on Apr. 28, 2020CHICAGO — Throughout the coronavirus crisis, convenience-store retailers and suppliers have supported their communities through donations of food, personal protective equipment and more.
This month’s community service roundup features 10 retailers, a fuel wholesaler and six suppliers who have given to COVID-19 relief efforts.
Wawa
The Wawa Foundation has designated $150,000 from its COVID-19 Emergency Food Distribution Fund to 21 Feeding America Food Bank Partners throughout Wawa’s footprint of nearly 900 stores.
The Wawa, Pa.-based c-store chain announced earlier this month it had earmarked $250,000 to provide food and necessary supplies to communities affected by the coronavirus due to school closures, employment disruptions and health risks. The $150,000 represents the first wave of the funds.
Parkland Fuels Inc.
Parkland Fuels Inc., Calgary, Alberta, gave first responders $5 off their fuel purchases for a limited time to show appreciation for their tireless efforts, according to the company.
Kwik Chek
Kwik Chek launched initiatives in its Texas and Oklahoma stores to raise funds for United Way to help those affected by COVID-19. The Bonham, Texas-based chain partnered with sister company McCraw Oil and pledged to match the first $5,000 of funds raised in stores when customers added $1, $3 or $5 to their orders at checkout.
Kwik Chek also thanked front-line workers at hospitals by donating care packages to community hospitals.
Casey’s General Stores
Casey’s General Stores, Ankeny, Iowa, donated more than 30,000 pounds of food—equal to 25,000 meals—to the Food Bank of Iowa.
It also donated 7,700 pounds of food to the Terre Haute Catholic Charities in Indiana.
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores, Oklahoma City, donated $100,000 to the St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund to help professional drivers who can’t work due to illness or injury. The fund helps with expenses including rent or mortgage, utilities, insurance and vehicle payments.
"This donation reflects our belief that professional truck drivers are the backbone of the U.S., especially during this challenging time," said Jenny Love Meyer, executive vice president and chief culture officer of Love's. "This contribution enables us to help drivers with immediate needs when they are unable to work due to COVID-19 or other medical issues."
Dash In
Dash In, La Plata, Md., is giving all healthcare professionals and first responders a free breakfast sandwich from the chain’s breakfast menu, which is available 24/7. The deal is available in Dash In locations in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia through May 3.
Dash In is also asking its customers to participate in its Snack-O-Gram program. Through the program, customers can send personal messages and snack items to healthcare workers and first responders.
Clipper Petroleum
Clipper Petroleum, Flowery Branch, Ga., through its nonprofit The Clipper Petroleum Foundation is giving $40,000 in unrestricted grants to five nonprofits in north Georgia.
The groups receiving the grants are The Georgia Mountain Food Bank, Gainesville, Ga.; Straight Street Ministries Backpack Love, Gainesville, Ga.; The Good News Clinic, Gainesville, Ga; White County BackPack Buddies, Cleveland, Ga; and Oconee Area Resource Council, Watkinsville, Ga.
Sheetz
Sheetz, Altoona, Pa., is offering free coffee to first responders through June 1. The offer is available to hospital workers, police officers, firefighters and paramedics.
"The first responders and medical personnel on the front lines of this pandemic continue to truly inspire us, as they work tirelessly and relentlessly to care for others in our communities and throughout the nation," said Travis Sheetz, president and COO of Sheetz. "It's important for us to show our appreciation to every single one of them during this difficult time. We're hoping this gesture will help fuel the first responders and medical personnel in the communities we reside in as they work around the clock to deliver life-saving care."
Chevron
Chevron donated $1 million in Chevron and Texaco gift cards to first responders and food banks in the communities it serves. The donation is part of more than $12 million Chevron has committed around the world to COVID-19 response efforts.
In addition to the gift cards, San Ramon, Calif.-based Chevron has donated $500,000 to the Keep Kids Learning initiative, food to food banks and 100,000 surgical masks to hospitals in California.
Nouria Energy
Nouria Energy, Worcester, Mass., has partnered with local c-store chains to donate bags of food, snacks and beverages during the coronavirus crisis. The gift bags contain snacks, energy bars, drinks and more and were distributed to charitable organizations, first responders and medical facilities around the state.
Nouria has also donated bags of food to the United Way in Springfield, Mass.
Motiva
Motiva Enterprises, Houston, has donated funds, gas cards and technology to help strengthen the COVID-19 pandemic response in the communities in which it operates.
The petroleum product distributor gave $250,000 to the Greater Houston COVID-19 Recovery Fund, $250,000 to the Southeast Texas Emergency Relief Fund and $50,000 in Shell-branded gas gift cards to medical and emergency response organizations.
It also gave 500 refurbished laptops to Comp-U-Dopt—a nonprofit organization that provides technology access and education to underserved youth—and disposable personal protection equipment and no-contact temperatures sensors to the Port Arthur Police Department and the SouthEast Texas Regional Emergency Operations Center for mobile testing sites.
The Hershey Co.
The Hershey Co. has committed $1 million to acquire, install and staff a new manufacturing line dedicated to the production of face masks. The line will be capable of producing up to 45,000 masks per day and will become operational near the end of May.
The Hershey, Pa.-based company has also donated millions in cash and products to benefit community and healthcare organizations. In addition, it has delivered tens of thousands of pounds of treats to more than 50 facilities to lift the spirits of front-line workers, according to the company.
Nestle Pure Life
Nestle Pure Life, a Nestle Waters North America brand, is supporting No Kid Hungry with a $1 million contribution.
Nestle Pure Life is also raising awareness of No Kid Hungry’s Free Meal Finder, a new online resource that helps families find free meals near them. WWE star Titus O’Neil will be featured in a public service announcement promoting the resource.
Nestle Waters North America is based in Stamford, Conn.
Welch’s
Promotion In Motion, manufacturer of Welch's Fruit Snacks, has donated more than 1.2 million pouches of its fruit snacks to hunger relief organization Feeding America.
The Allendale, N.J.-based company also donated cash to the Franklin Township, N.J., Food Bank to help fund the acquisition of groceries, vegetables and other necessities.
Jelly Belly
Jelly Belly Candy Co., Fairfield, Calif., is giving 1 million bags of jelly beans to first responders. Jelly Belly is hoping that the bags will provide a small dose of positivity or a reason to smile during stressful times.
Voss Water
Voss Water has donated nearly 700,000 bottles of water to medical first responders, with 480,000 bottles going to the Mayor’s Fund, which helps first responders in New York.
In addition, the New York-based bottled water company has donated its product to organizations including Parenthood Together and World Central Kitchen.
Voss will also provide a package of water and hand sanitizer for a select amount of people who send a direct message to @VossWorld on Instagram.
Sparkling Ice
Sparkline Ice, from Preston, Wash.-based Talking Rain Beverage Co., is launching a Cheers to Heroes campaign to celebrate America’s everyday hometown heroes. Sparkling Ice is giving $400,000 to unsung heroes through various initiatives, including its Cheers to Heroes contest, a donation to the Honor Flight Network and more.
Consumers can nominate someone who is considered an everyday hero for a chance for the hero to win $10,000 through June 14.