7-Eleven Kicks Off Annual Operation Chill

DALLAS -- With temperatures soaring in the midst of summer recess, kids can get a cool reward for demonstrating good behavior. For the 19th consecutive year, 7-Eleven Inc. is partnering with local police departments to distribute up to 1 million free Slurpee coupons through its community service program, Operation Chill.

This year, 7-Eleven will distribute Operation Chill coupons to approximately 700 agencies across the United States, in the greater Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, San Diego, Orlando, Tampa, Dallas, Denver and Las Vegas areas, according to the company. Police departments in big cities and small towns alike will receive the coupons that are redeemable for a free small Slurpee drink at participating 7-Eleven stores.

Examples of good behavior include helping another person, participating in a police athletic league, wearing a bicycle helmet or deterring crime, according to 7-Eleven.

Police departments begin signing up early each year for the annual program, according to Mark Stinde, 7-Eleven vice president of asset protection.

"Uniformed police officers sometimes can be intimidating to kids and Operation Chill provides a positive reason to interact with children and youth," said Stinde. "Giving a child a free Slurpee coupon for doing good can help build relationships and reinforce doing the right thing, which might have a long-lasting impact."

7-Eleven introduced Operation Chill in Philadelphia in 1995 before launching it nationally the following year. Law enforcement agencies also use the coupons to support other community organizations and projects.

A full list of participating police agencies is available at the bottom of 7-Eleven's announcement.

More than a half-million Slurpee drinks are purchased each day during the summer at 7-Eleven stores across the country, according to the retailer. This summer's flavors include sugar-free Watermelon Punch Slurpee Lite and Slurpee Lite, launched in 2012, which is the first Slurpee-branded, sugar-free frozen beverage available at participating 7-Eleven stores nationwide.

Dallas-based 7-Eleven operates, franchises or licenses more than 10,300 7-Eleven stores in North America.