CAMP HILL, Pa. --Sheetz and Sunoco convenience stores won praise from the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) for assisting travelers stranded on the Pennsylvania Turnpike during recent winter storm Jonas.
On Saturday, Jan. 23, the turnpike was closed in both directions between Breezewood and New Stanton after tractor-trailers got stuck on the highway. The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) reached out to PFMA to ask for assistance in providing supplies and meals to travelers who were moved to an emergency shelter.
Sheetz’ Bedford store made 250 subs and provided water for stranded motorists. Sunoco APlus convenience stores in South Somerset and North Bedford prepared 100 sandwiches and donated several hundred bottles of water to the people stuck on the turnpike.
“Our sincere thanks to Sheetz and Sunoco, who readily answered PEMA’s call for assistance,” said Alex Baloga, PFMA vice president of external relations. “Sheetz and Sunoco provided those travelers with a little comfort and a meal as they waited out the storm until the turnpike reopened.”
More than 500 cars, trucks and buses were stranded from late Friday through Saturday. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured thanks to the efforts of PennDOT, PEMA, the National Guard and law enforcement.
The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association is a statewide trade association advocating the views of convenience stores, supermarkets, independent grocers, wholesalers and consumer product vendors. PFMA’s more than 800 corporate members operate 3,200 retail food stores and employ more than 150,000 Pennsylvanians.
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