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 highlights these philanthropic efforts in this special section.

Here are the latest company spotlights:

CHS Inc.
In addition to the contribution, CHS is working directly with its affected producer customers in the region to identify short- and long-term needs for feed and other assistance.

Kangaroo Express
To support the third annual Kangaroo Express Salute Our Troops campaign, fuel partners BP, Marathon and Valero donated one penny for every gallon of fuel purchased by Kangaroo Express guests who used their fuel rewards card at participating locations. The Gallons for Good program raised $25,000 for Salute Our Troops, contributing to the nearly $2.7 million raised this year.

Kangaroo Express, the primary operating banner of The Pantry Inc., invited store guests to make donations to the campaign from Independence Day through Labor Day. The c-store chain also encouraged communities to share special messages of praise and gratitude to the military. Through more than 1,550 Kangaroo Express stores across 13 states, customers and communities demonstrated united support for military personnel and their families.

Donations from the campaign will directly support the United Service Organizations, helping to lift the spirits of America’s troops and their families around the world; Fisher House Foundation, donating “comfort homes” at major military and VA medical centers that enable military and Veteran’s families to be close to a loved one during hospitalization; as well as eight state-based military support organizations.

Kwik Trip Inc.
In 2012, Kwik Trip raised approximately $104,940 to help provide year-round programming in sports, health, education and community building to individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Kwik Trip has been a supporter of SOWI for more than 13 years and currently is a SOWI year-round mission partner, a statewide Polar Plunge partner and a Law Enforcement Torch Run for SOWI partner.

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores
Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores recently wrapped up a five-week fundraising campaign at its 304 travel stop and country store locations, donating $2 million to benefit 92 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across the country. Love's employees and customers worked together to raise the record amount for its 15th campaign, most of which came one dollar at a time.

During the campaign, Love's team members sold paper hearts for donations and organized grassroots fundraising events for their communities like golf tournaments, bake sales, cookouts and music concerts. Across the country, managers shaved their heads, took pies in the face and even kissed pigs to motivate their teams to raise even more.

This year, Love's store teams and customers raised $1.5 million. The additional $500,000 came from golf tournaments organized by employees at corporate offices in Oklahoma City and Houston, as well as corporate donations and money donated at air pumps at Love's locations.

All funds benefit the local Children's Miracle Network (CMN) Hospital where the money was raised, so 92 of CMN's 170 hospitals will benefit from the Love's $2 million donation. Love's has raised a total of $9.5 million in 15 years supporting CMN Hospitals.

QuikTrip Corp.
QuikTrip Corp. CEO Chet Cadieux recently presented the Folds of Honor Foundation with a $295,000 donation.

QuikTrip committed to donate a portion of sales of its commemorative Folds of Honor 32-ounce cups sold during Labor Day weekend. It also teamed with The Coca-Cola Co. for an additional contribution and hosted a golf tournament.

The Folds of Honor Foundation is a charitable organization that provides educational scholarships for children and spouses of military service men and women killed or disabled while serving the nation.

Since its inception in 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded more than 5,000 scholarships.

Truenorth Convenience Stores
Truenorth Convenience Stores, with 110 locations throughout Ohio and four recently opened in Chicago, raised $35,000 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in the month of September.

Truenorth is a fourth-generation family-owned company that prides itself on being able to give back to its communities.

 

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