Community Service Spotlight
NATIONAL REPORT -- Giving back through community service efforts and charity donations is a positive force that keeps many retailers and suppliers of this industry moving ahead. On a regular basis, Convenience Store News will highlight these philanthropic efforts in this special section. Here are the latest company spotlights:
BP America, Inc.
BP America, Inc. will donate $1 million to support disaster relief efforts in Louisiana and Mississippi following Hurricane Isaac. The donation will be made to the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army and divided equally between the two hardest-hit states.
The storm forced BP to evacuate workers from offshore platforms and drilling rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as from onshore facilities in south Louisiana and Mississippi, where hundreds of BP employees live. Separate from the donation, BP is also providing assistance to employees and their families in the region.
Cumberland Farms
Cumberland Farms and Sippican Elementary School in Southeastern Massachusetts will team up for four weeks this upcoming school year in order to raise money for the school.
For every non-bottled beverage (coffee, Chill Zone, fountain soda) sold at Cumberland Farms over a four-week period, the store will donate 20 cents to the school with the hopes of raising at least $1,000. The Carver Public Library in Massachusetts will also be the recipient of a similar Cumberland Farms effort. For four weeks that began in mid-August, Cumberland Farms will donate 20 cents from every Chill Zone beverage, iced tea and coffee (iced or hot) purchased at its newly remodeled store in Carver to benefit the library's "read-alongs" and activities for toddlers to young adults. Cumberland Farms plans to raise at least $1,000 for the library.
The Gleason Family YMCA was another recipient of Cumberland Farm's drink fundraiser. For the bulk of July, Cumberland Farms donated 20 cents from every Chill Zone beverage, iced tea and coffee (iced or hot) purchased at its newly remodeled store in West Wareham, Mass., to benefit the Gleason Family YMCA, with the intent to raise at least $1,000.
Love's Travel Stops
From now through September 30, Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores is holding its annual paper heart fundraising efforts for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals across the country. To prepare for the CMN Hospitals campaign, Love's shows its employees exactly who they will be helping when they "make the ask" for a donation.
Love's holds meetings throughout the year across the country to talk business strategies, numbers and goals with company leaders. Store general managers, assistant managers and restaurant managers come together and meet as a district. District meetings get leaders together face-to-face for at least one full day of meetings.
The company says the greatest part of district meetings happens outside of the conference room. Love's employees pack up their notepads and pens to hit the road for the local children's hospital. This is where they get to see where money raised during the CMN Hospitals campaign goes. Doctors take the group of managers on a tour of various areas around the children's hospital, including the neonatal intensive care unit, trauma, oncology and more.
Quick Chek
Quick Chek's fundraising with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) resulted in a $71,762 donation, easily surpassing their its $50,000 goal. The fundraiser began Memorial Day weekend, where customers could make $1 donations to IAVA at Quick Chek checkout counters. With a single donation, customers were able to sign a dog tag, which was then displayed in each store to express support towards America's bravest men and women.
TravelCenters of America
TravelCenters of America (TA) launched its annual campaign in support of the St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund (SCF), a non-profit organization that helps truck drivers suffering from financial hardship due to medical problems. The campaign will run at all TA and Petro locations through Sept. 15, 2012.
During the month-long event, guests and employees at TA and Petro Stopping Centers will be invited to make donations of $1 or more. Commemorative 2012 wristbands will be given to everyone choosing to donate. One hundred percent of all donations will go to the SCF.
"I'm looking forward to again helping SCF raise money for truck drivers -- our customers -- in need," said Tom O'Brien, president and CEO of TA.
Cenex Zip Trip
For the third year, Cenex Zip Trip stores have participated in growing The Salvation Army's Backpacks for Kids Campaign in several states, helping to raise $26,216 in Spokane, Wash., and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and over $5,000 in Billings, Mont.
The Salvation Army uses the funds to purchase backpacks and fill them with essential school supplies for children in need.