CITGO Petroleum and PS Food Mart Team to Fight Hunger

HOMER, Mich. -- The employees, customers and neighbors of 29 PS Food Mart stores in south central Michigan and Toledo, Ohio teamed up for the second annual Pop Tarts fundraising campaign, ultimately donating more than 38,000 Kellogg's PopTarts to area food pantries, afterschool programs and churches. The Cooper Street PS Food Mart CITGO in Jackson, Mich. led the record-breaking campaign.

"We're humbled by the generosity of our customers and by the enthusiasm each one of our PS Food Mart employees put forth to help fight hunger here in our community," said Ed Heath, vice president of operations with PS Food Mart. "As we enter the holiday season, it's important to support our local food banks and help stock their shelves with nutritious food for those in need. With the generosity of the PS Food Mart employees and patrons, the charities will be better able to sustain the needs of the less fortunate here in our hometown."

During the campaign, store employees encouraged customers to purchase Poptarts for $1 to be donated to local charities such as the Williamston Food Bank, Trinity Lutheran Child Care, Toledo Food Bank & Church, YWCA, and Marshall Elementary Shamrock Center. Participants surpassed last year's record by more than 10,375 PopTarts, the company said.

"We are confident the enthusiasm and support of this campaign will continue throughout the year as we help more families in need across the region," said Heath. "PS Food Mart Stores have a wonderful history of charitable giving, raising money for many local and national organizations through PS Food Mart Charities. Our president and CEO, Dick Folk , encourages community outreach programs and this is becoming one of our best."