Sheetz Promotes Environmental Policies on Earth Day

CLAYSBURG, Pa. -- In honor of Earth Day, Sheetz Inc. went green today at the company's distribution center here.

The Altoona, Pa.-based convenience store retailer hosted a celebration to educate employees and promote its growing environmental policies, according to a report by The Altoona Mirror.

Earl Springer, Sheetz' employee programs manager, told the news outlet the company has been stressing environmental changes for the past three years, including its consideration of gas-powered trucks and adopt-a-highway programs.

Monday also marked the first day to sign up for the Sheetz "Shwellness Garden." The garden is a collection of 6-foot by-6-foot dirt plots where employees can grow gardens and tend to them during work breaks.

"We decided to start with 20 plots. Just to see, after today, how much interest there is," Travis Eckels of Marathon Health, the company that operates the center, told the news outlet.

In addition to hosting 1,500 Sheetz employees, today's Earth Day program drew in members of the local community including Penn State Altoona students whose recycling pilot program is currently in effect at five Altoona Sheetz stores, as well as gardening experts from the Penn State Extension who provided pollen-related lessons for attendees.

Meanwhile, Sheetz employees punched their Earth Day tickets at each booth and were rewarded with massages and free coffee.

"You get some free stuff. You get free smoothies and food," Adam Russell, a Sheetz employee, told the news source. "I mean, why not?"

Sheetz operates more than 430 locations across six states — Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and North Carolina.