Community Service Roundup, May 2020
By Hannah Hammond on May 26, 2020CHICAGO — Each month CSP features convenience-store chains and suppliers that are giving back to their communities. As the coronavirus pandemic continues to affect the country, many are donating money and supplies to aid healthcare officials, first responders and children.
This month’s roundup features seven retailers and three suppliers …
Parkland
Parkland Fuel Corp., Calgary, Alberta, is on track to contribute more than $4 million to support communities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Parkland provided front-line healthcare workers and first responders with more than $3.5 million in fuel and gave truckers free hot showers and food and snack discounts at select c-stores. The company donated an additional $500,000 to Food Banks Canada.
Wawa
Wawa, Wawa, Pa., has donated $371,500 since the start of the coronavirus crisis. The Wawa Foundation COVID-19 Emergency Food Distribution Fund was started on March 20 to support local foods banks and non-profits working to relieve hunger in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington, D.C.
Rutter’s
Rutter’s, York, Pa., donated $50,000 worth of food and beverages to the Central Penn Food Bank since the start of March. The items donated by Rutter’s are packaged as meals to provide breakfast, lunch and dinner to families in the Central Penn Food Bank’s food program.
“Life-sustaining food donations from our retail partners like Rutter’s help us ensure that no family is hungry through this crisis and beyond,” said Joe Arthur, executive director of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.
Rutter’s has donated $400,000 in food and drinks to the food bank since 2019.
The chain also recently donated $50,000 to the Central Pennsylvania Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to support Type 1 diabetes research.
Parker’s
Parker’s, Savannah, Ga., donated more than 7,000 masks to front-line healthcare workers throughout coastal Georgia and South Carolina during the COVID-19 crisis.
“We know there have been mask shortages throughout the region and want to make sure area healthcare workers have the Personal Protective Equipment they need to stay safe while caring for patients,” Parker’s Founder and CEO Greg Parker said.
EG Group
EG Group, Westborough, Mass., and the American Cancer Society raised $252,394 for the American Cancer Society.
EG Group’s c-stores, including Certified Oil, Cumberland Farms, Fastrac, Kwik Shop, Loaf 'n Jug, Minit Mart, Quik Stop, Tom Thumb and Turkey Hill, allowed customers to donate throughout March to the fundraiser.
Money raised through the campaign will help fund the society’s 24/7 cancer information helpline and research. Eighty percent of the calls the hotline received in March were COVID-19 related, according to EG Group.
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores, Oklahoma City, teamed with vendors to offer truck drivers a $5 coupon that can be used at any Love’s for in-store purchases.
"This offer is a token of appreciation for the critical role professional truck drivers have played during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Dave Frankenfield, vice president of marketing for Love's. "Because of these drivers, vital goods are getting to families across the country.”
The coupons are available for the first 100,000 drivers for redemption through June 16 through the Love’s Connect mobile application. Love’s is also keeping driver’s March loyalty status through May, even if they fell short of their fuel gallon goal. My Love’s Rewards members have access to free drinks and showers and points to spend on meals and other items.
St. Romain Oil Co. Inc.
The Corporate Works of Mercy Foundation donated $20,000 to the Food Bank of Central Louisiana with money raised through the Y-Not Peanut Butter drive. The foundation was founded by Mansura, La.-based St. Romain Oil Co. Inc., which owns the Y-Not Stop c-store chain.
The foundation has hosted the drive at Y-Not Stop locations and other partner’s sites to raise funds and awareness for the Food Bank of Central Louisiana. This year, due to COVID-19, food insecurity is more widespread in the communities the food bank services, according to the foundation. Peanut butter supply is also low due to COVID-19, which promoted the monetary donation this year.
The $20,000 donation will help give more than 10,000 meals to families in need.
PepsiCo
PepsiCo, Purchase, N.Y., has launched Give Meals Give Hope to help connect children in need with food through a fundraising campaign with No Kid Hungry, a national campaign working to ensure every child receives three meals a day during the pandemic and after.
PepsiCo is recruiting athletes like New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley and New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge to spread the word about the programs using the hashtag #GiveMealsGiveHope.
The beverage company also matched $1 million in donations made to the cause.
Stacy’s
Stacy’s Rise Project is accepting applications from female entrepreneurs. The grant and mentorship program will benefit 15 female founders across all industries. The winners will receive donated media space to raise awareness for her brands, mentorship from Frito-Lay and PepsiCo leaders and a $10,000 grant to help advance her business.
The mission of the project is to help women rise, such as entrepreneur Stacy Madison of Stacy’s Pita Chips, a division of PepsiCo. The 15 finalists will be unveiled in July.
Red Diamond Coffee & Tea
Red Diamond Coffee & Tea, Birmingham, Ala., contributed more than 2,700 bottles of its Fitz Cold Brew Coffee and Fortify Cold Brew Tea to Brookwood Baptist Hospital, Grandview Medical Center, The Great Grocery Giveback, Mountain Brook Fire Department, St. Vincent's Birmingham Hospital and the YMCA of Greater Birmingham.
"As this situation continues to evolve, we're all humbled by the heroic acts carried out by our local healthcare workers every day," said Emily Wood Bowron, assistant vice president of strategic marketing. "As a family owned, Birmingham-based company, we're grateful to be part of this effort to support our first responders and groups like the YMCA who work tirelessly amid the COVID-19 pandemic to protect our community."
If you would like your company featured in our monthly community services roundup, please reach out at hprokop@winsightmedia.com.