Community Service Roundup, November 2020
By Hannah Hammond on Dec. 07, 2020CHICAGO — This month’s community service roundup features 10 convenience-store retailers and 2 suppliers.
Click through to see how companies gave back in November ...
Rutter’s
Rutter’s, York, Pa., recently donated $100,000 to seven Pennsylvania charities, bringing its yearly donations to more than $600,000.
The most recent round of contributions went to Adams County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Make-a-Wish Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia, Vista School, Easter Seals Western and Central Pennsylvania, YMCA of Centre County, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Berks County, and Trone Memorial Library of East Berlin.
“We are very proud to continue our charitable giving, especially throughout this difficult year,” said Scott Hartman, Rutter’s president and CEO. “We are continuously working to support our communities and our great customers.”
The c-store chain said in early December it plans to announce several hundred thousand dollars more in donations through the end of the year.
GetGo
GetGo Café+Market locations are raising money through December for the U.S. Marine Corps annual Toys for Tots holiday campaign.
During the campaign, a portion of the proceeds from any order of tots will go to Toys for Tots, for up to $10,000, the Pittsburgh-based chain said. This is the first year for GetGo’s Tots campaign.
Stewart’s Shops
Stewart’s Shops, Ballston Spa, N.Y., is working with customers to raise money for local children’s charities through its annual Holiday Match campaign. The fundraiser lasts from Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Day.
Last year, customers donated $895,000 to the program, which was doubled to about $1.8 million with Stewart’s match. The money went to 1,830 local children’s organizations across 31 counties where Stewart’s operates.
“The $30 million success story of the Holiday Match program continues to grow, since 1986, with the hard work of our shop partners and the generosity of our customers. Together, we will help thousands of children in our 31 county market area,” says Amy Potter, Stewart’s director of corporate contributions.
The Spinx Co. Inc.
The Spinx Co. Inc., Greenville, S.C., donated $325,250 to the American Cancer Society. The chain has held an annual store campaign for 12 years to raise money for the society from communities across South Carolina.
“As a cancer survivor myself, I know the importance of the work that the American Cancer Society accomplishes each and every day,” company founder Stewart Spinks said. “For the 12 year in a row, The Spinx Co. is honored to support their mission and its efforts in education, treatment and research to discover more successful treatments, and ultimately a cure for cancer.”
All 84 Spinx stores participated in the campaign to collect donations supporting the efforts of the American Cancer Society.
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores Inc.
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores Inc., Oklahoma City, donated a record $1.7 million for the United Way of Central Oklahoma through its annual campaign.
Money was raised by Love’s corporate employees who pledged funds and participated in virtual auctions and raffles. Love’s also matched employee contributions by 50% and received vendor donations.
Since 1999, Love’s has donated more than $7.5 million to the organization.
First Coast Energy LLP
First Coast Energy LLP, which operates Jacksonville, Fla.-based Daily’s c-stores, raised more than $400,000 at The Daily’s Foundation charity golf tournament and banquet.
The Nemours Children’s Health System and Tim Tebow Foundation received $350,000 and $105,000, respectively. The money will go toward hematology/oncology at Nemours Specialty Care and the Tim Tebow Foundations’ anti-human trafficking ministry.
Weigel’s Stores Inc.
Weigel’s Stores Inc., Powell, Tenn., donated $45,404 to Smoky Mountain Service Dogs at a celebration of Veterans Day this year. The check will help raise and train two service dogs.
The program provides veterans in need service dogs to aid them and give companionship. It costs up to $22,000 just to raise and train one service dog before it can be matched with a veteran, the company said.
Gate Petroleum Co.
The Gate Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Jacksonville, Fla.-based Gate Petroleum Co., donated $80,000 to the American Cancer Society to support breast cancer research and awareness. Money was raised in Gate Stores throughout Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina as part of the pink ribbon paper icon campaign.
From Oct. 1 to 21 customers could donated $1 and sign their name on a pink ribbon paper icon to display at a Gate store.
“2020 marks our 10th year of supporting the fight against breast cancer with the pink ribbon campaign in Gate Stores,” said Kathy Brady, executive director of the Gate Foundation. “We are so grateful to our customers for their generosity and to our employees for the enthusiasm supporting this campaign.”
QuickChek Corp.
QuickChek Corp., Whitehouse Station, N.J., raised $109,000 for local military veterans in honor of Veterans Day.
The chain raised $45,000 through its annual golf outing to assist military veterans in their transition to post-military careers.
The second event was an in-store fundraiser with the Semper Fi & America’s Fund, which raised $64,000 to help provide immediate financial assistance and lifetime support to combat wounded, critically ill and catastrophically injured members of all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families.
7-Eleven Canada
7-Eleven Canada, Vancouver, B.C., donated 125,000 masks and 7,000 bottles of hand sanitizer to the government of Manitoba for use in schools and other high-priority areas. Suppliers are needed to help keep people safe amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Across Canada, the company is offering more than 1.3 million face masks and 77,000 bottles of hand sanitizer in the five provinces it serves: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.
7-Eleven Canada also donated about 350,000 meals since January to Food Banks Canada and continues to work toward its donation goal of 500,000 meals.
The Coca-Cola Co.
The Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta, is releasing new holiday packaging with more than 40 designs dedicated to everyday heroes, including nurses, teachers, moms, grandparents and more. “Share the magic with a doctor,” one Coke bottle reads, for example.
Starting on Dec. 2, participants can share messages of gratitude about a special hero in their lives on social media by tagging @CocaCola and using the hashtag #ShareACoke. People can also purchase a Holiday Heroes Themed “Share A Coke” bottle in store or on cokestore.com to send a custom bottle to their hero.
Restauranteur and philanthropist Marcus Samuelsson is partnering with Coca-Cola to share a meaningful thank you with his hero, Anissa Sherard, a friend and server at his restaurant.
Promotion in Motion Companies Inc.
Promotion in Motion Cos. Inc., Allendale, N.J., is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a donation of 4 million pouches of its Welch’s Fruit Snacks to Feeding America. The gummies will go to food banks across the United States.
The company started in 1979 with just $150 and has grown into one of the largest snacks and confections producers in the world, Promotion in Motion said. Welch’s Fruit Snacks were established in 2001.