Charity Roundup: Holiday Edition

As the year comes to a close, many convenience stores took the holidays as an opportunity for fundraising initiatives. Here are four c-store chains among the many that raised funds for children’s charities.

Read on to learn about how the industry gave back this season. ...

Stewart’s, Ballston Spa, New York, began its Holiday Match Campaign on Thanksgiving. It runs through Christmas Day at all locations. The program supports nonprofit organizations benefiting children.

To date, the program has raised over $36 million for children’s charities. Last year, customers donated more than $1 million to the program, doubling to more than $2 million with the Stewart’s match. The funds supported 1,939 local children’s organizations across the 32 counties where Stewart’s Shops are located.

“Sharing is a central focus of everything we do at Stewart’s,” said Jennifer Frame, director of corporate philanthropy at Stewart’s Shops. “Holiday Match takes those efforts to another level by supporting children in the communities that we serve.”

Sheetz, Altoona, Pennsylvania, kicked of its annual Sheetz For the Kidz donation campaign.

Customers can support local families in need of clothes, toys and more this holiday season by making a donation at check-out through donation boxes or adding donations to their purchase at the point of sale.

In 2022, customers raised $1.6 million for children in need through in-store fundraising in July and December. The donations helped make the holiday season brighter for more than 11,000 children within the six states Sheetz operates. To date, the charity has positively impacted more than 160,000 children living in the communities Sheetz serves.

In partnership with Make-A-Wish, funds raised during the campaign also sponsor wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. The charity sponsors one child per Sheetz operating district, totaling 71 children this year.

To broaden the connection to the communities it serves, Sheetz for the Kidz partners with Feeding America to provide food to children in need. In 2022, their $685,000 commitment served more than 1.5 million meals through backpack programs, kids cafés, school and mobile pantries and summer feeding programs.

Rutter’s, York, Pennsylvania, is continuing its Secret Santa donations program this year. The chain chose 100 of its nominated employees to select a charity for Rutter’s Children’s Charities to donate $1,000 to, totaling $100,000 in donations. The selected charities have an emphasis on children, education and local community efforts.

“Each year, giving Rutter’s employees the opportunity to direct donations towards causes that matter to them is one of our favorite things to do,” said Chris Hartman, president of Rutter’s Children’s Charities. “Being able to raise the total amount donated to $100,000 is exciting for Rutter’s Children’s Charities and we look forward to seeing the impact on our community.”

The Secret Santa donations began in 2016 to donate to local organizations during the holiday season. Giving back to the communities in which Rutter’s operates, is an important part of Rutter’s Children’s Charities’ mission. The Secret Santa program has grown over the years and has donated more than $450,000 to numerous local charities, since its inception.

Royal Farms, Baltimore, has again partnered with Pepsi this holiday season with charitable donations to support Maryland’s children. Through the partnership, Salvation Army Angels received $10,000 worth of gifts that will allow 141 families to experience the joy of Christmas morning.

Royal Farms and Pepsi will contribute to the Christmas lunch at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, providing families with Royal Farms cookies and Pepsi-supplied beverages. Each of the 209 families under care at Johns Hopkins Children's Center will also receive a $100 Royal Farms gift card.