Parker’s Kitchen made a landmark $1 million donation to support America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia, a nonprofit organization based in Savannah, Georgia, that serves as the food safety net for tens of thousands of individuals who are at risk for hunger across a 21-county area.
Parker’s founder and CEO Greg Parker presented a $1 million check to America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia Executive Director Mary Jane Crouch during a hard hat tour of the nonprofit’s new 143,000-square-foot facility, which is currently under construction on a 20-acre site. Parker made the donation in honor of Hunger Action Month in September, expanding the company’s commitment to provide two million meals to hungry children in 2023.
“America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia serves as a vital food safety net for so many children, seniors and families who are experiencing food insecurity throughout the region,” Parker said during the check presentation ceremony. “At Parker’s Kitchen, we want to be a force for positive change in our community. We hope this $1 million donation will help America’s Second Harvest feed even more children and more families in the future.”
The new America’s Second Harvest facility will double the existing warehouse, office, volunteer center and commercial kitchen space. A state-of-the-art warehouse will include 10 tractor-trailer docks. The new facility is expected to be operational by January 2024.
“We are incredibly grateful to Parker’s Kitchen for this generous donation, which will be critical to our success at our new location on Chatham Parkway,” said Crouch. Last year, Second Harvest’s food bank provided 22.8 million pounds of food, the equivalent of 19 million meals, to hungry people throughout coastal Georgia.
The new America’s Second Harvest food bank will include a 98,108 square-foot warehouse, a 18,425 square-foot volunteer center and agency marketplace, a 13,480 square-foot Kids Cafe commercial kitchen and expanded office and training space. The organization is completing a two-year capital campaign made possible in part by a grant allocation from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs as well as many generous donors.
The Parker’s Kitchen donation will be made through customer round-up campaign contributions over the next five years as well as a Parker’s Kitchen match designed to maximize the campaign’s impact. Since Parker’s Kitchen launched its inaugural round-up campaign in May 2022, the company has raised nearly $500,000 to fight hunger in Georgia and South Carolina.
In The Community
Every year, the convenience retail industry dedicates billions of dollars to advancing the futures of individuals and families in our communities. The NACS Foundation unifies and builds on NACS members’ charitable efforts to amplify their work in communities across America and to share these powerful stories.
Learn more at www.conveniencecares.org.
Volta Oil Raises Over $170,000 for Alzheimer’s Association
Volta Oil’s 12th annual Purple Pump-Up Campaign raised more than $170,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association of Massachusetts/New Hampshire chapter. Rapid Refill Convenience and Garrett’s Family Market stores spanning Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island joined forces with the Alzheimer’s Association to increase awareness and raise funds. The campaign has raised nearly $1.3 million dollars since it began a decade ago.
Travel Centers of America Raises $156,000
Travel Centers of America raised $156,000 through its round up campaign to support the St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund. The funds will support truck drivers who have had to take time off from driving due to injury or illness. Since 2010, TA has raised $3 million for the St. Christopher’s fund.
Wills Group Raises Over $374,000
The Wills Group raised more than $374,000 at the seventh annual Blackie Wills Golf Classic held in Ellicott City, Maryland. The money will support Wills Group’s partnership with Oasis Fresh Foods Market to provide essential food resources to local residents. Since 2017, the Wills Group and its companies, including Dash In, Splash In ECO Car Wash and SMO Motor Fuels, have raised more than $2 million at the Blackie Wills Golf Classic in support of local and regional nonprofit organizations across the Mid-Atlantic region.
Maverik Launches Campaign with $250,000 Contribution
Maverik kicked off its annual giving drive through two initiatives with Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization. Maverik contributed $250,000 to Feeding America and will follow with its annual Round Up Your Change program, inviting customers to round up their in-store cash and credit transactions to the nearest dollar or more to support the Feeding America network of food banks. Maverik’s 2022 Round Up campaign raised more than $470,000 for Feeding America.
Cenex Hometown Throwdown to Award $150,000
Cenex launched Hometown Throwdown, its contest asking individuals and organizations to share what makes their hometown festival unique. The grand prize winner will be revealed in May 2024 and will receive $100,000 for their festival. The remaining two finalists will receive $25,000 each. To date, Cenex has given more than a half a million dollars in grants to support local communities. These efforts have helped fund more than 80 community projects, including improving aging baseball fields, providing athletic workshops in schools, supporting local food shelters and more.
Casey’s Teams Up With Farmers
Casey’s Pizza and Illinois Farm Families (IFF) partnered during the month of October to promote local farm families. Casey’s pizzas throughout Illinois came with a flyer featuring 10 farm families representing a variety of Illinois family-owned crop and livestock operations. In addition to the flyer promotion, IFF and Casey’s celebrated National Pizza Month with a pizza giveaway at five grain elevators across the state. At each location, the groups gave away 96 Casey’s pizzas to drive home the message that 96% of Illinois farms are family owned.