Community Service Roundup, July 2022
By Rachel Gignac on Aug. 04, 2022CHICAGO — The July community service roundup includes four convenience stores and two suppliers. This month’s roundup features initiatives for frontline workers, support for truck drivers and relief for food insecurity.
Click through to read about how c-stores made a difference this month …
Kellogg
The Kellogg Co., Battle Creek, Mich., awarded $5,000 grants to 10 school districts to support breakfast programs in partnership with No Kid Hungry. Kellogg and No Kid Hungry have reached over 1 million kids in need since 2013.
These grantees plan to use a portion of the grant to purchase foodservice equipment, such as rolling racks, warmers and freezers to deliver food in the 2022-23 school year.
TravelCenters of America
TravelCenters of America (TA), Westlake, Ohio, began its annual Round Up campaign to support St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund (SCF). The program helps truck drivers in need of assistance because injury or illness has taken them off the road within the last year.
Customers at participating TA, Petro and TA Express locations can round up their purchase to the nearest dollar through August.
“Providing support for the hardworking men and women who keep our country moving has always been a top priority for everyone at TA,” said Jon Pertchik, CEO of TA. “While TA can provide truckers with everything they need when they are on the road, it is the amazing team at SCF that helps them when they are sidelined and cannot be on the road.”
TA also celebrated its 50th anniversary by giving $50,000 to charities selected by team members. The 10 charities that received $5,000 each included …
- America’s VetDogs
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
- National Veterans Memorial and Museum
- Save the Children
- Shriners Hospitals for Children
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
- The City Mission (Cleveland)
- United States Veterans Initiative (U.S.VETS)
- Wounded Warrior Project
- Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation
Kum & Go
Kum & Go, Des Moines, Iowa, sponsored two new Habitat for Humanity International home builds in Grand Rapids, Mich., and Salt Lake City, Utah.
“Kum & Go is proud to support the affordable housing and financial education services provided by Habitat for Humanity,” said Emily Bahnsen, community investment manager at Kum & Go. “Through associate and customer engagement, we not only raise an incredible amount of money to support these programs, but also raise awareness about the need that continues to grow across our country.”
Kum & Go and Habitat for Humanity International recently celebrated nine years as partners.
QuickChek
QuickChek, Whitehouse Station, N.J., a subsidiary of Murphy USA, held its Pennies 4 Produce campaign, where customers donated $67,000 to those struggling with food insecurity. For each $1 raised, America’s Grow-a-Row provided five servings of fresh produce.
In addition to the in-store donations, a team of volunteers from QuickChek picked peaches at America’s Grow-a-Row farms. The trees the volunteers thinned will produce roughly 21,000 pounds of peaches—the equivalent of 84,000 servings of peaches that will be donated to those in need of healthy food.
Rutter’s
Rutter’s, York, Pa., held its Feeding the Frontline campaign, which provided free meals to frontline workers on July 24 and 25.
The meal consisted of a grab-and-go sandwich or wrap, a bag of Martin’s chips, a regular sized fountain drink and a standard size Reese’s or Hershey’s candy bar.
At all Rutter’s locations, the free meal was available to first responders in uniform and Rutter’s team members, as well as American Red Cross volunteers, class A CDL drivers, medical and active-duty military with ID.
Wawa
Wawa, Pa.-based Wawa launched its Florida 10th Anniversary Fund in celebration of 10 years in Florida. The Fund featured a total of $100,000 in donations to be spread across 1,000 local nonprofits in areas surrounding health, hunger and everyday heroes. Grant amounts varied between $1,000-$2,500.
“Though it’s been 10 years since Wawa first opened its doors in the sunshine state, it feels like we’ve been here for even longer as we’ve been fortunate to develop so many lasting relationships and meaningful connections over the past decade,” said Chris Gheysens, president and CEO of Wawa.
Mars
Mars Inc. has hired an M&Ms Fund advisory council board—a group of experts from organizations around the world—to inform brand programming as it relates to diversity, inclusion and belonging around the world.
In addition to diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) efforts, the M&Ms Fund took several donation initiatives.
M&Ms donated $1 per stream (up to $25,000) to Women in Music, an organization committed to advancing equality, visibility and belonging for all in the music industry.
The brand also continued its partnership with the Bentonville Film Festival Foundation to offer a mentorship program to a diverse filmmaker, consisting of a $20,000 grant and the opportunity to work with the M&Ms team on a project focused on championing inclusion.