Wawa pledged a $1 million grant to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida to feed children and families in the area. Second Harvest aims to increase the amount of fresh produce available to kids who are experiencing food insecurity.

Wawa and Second Harvest’s Fly Beyond pilot program set a goal to reach more than 53,000 households over a 12-month period.

Wawa is ensuring children in Central Florida have access to the nutritious, wholesome food they need to thrive.” —Derrick Chubbs, president and CEO, Second Harvest

“Through this first-of-its-kind investment, Wawa is ensuring children in Central Florida have access to the nutritious, wholesome food they need to thrive,” said Derrick Chubbs, president and CEO of Second Harvest. “Inflation is causing more families to make difficult decisions about what they can afford, and this partnership can help lessen worries about food costs.”

Throughout the year, Wawa’s culinary team will create recipes that feature many of the food items being distributed. Those recipes can be found online at the Fly Beyond landing page. Wawa and Second Harvest intend to use the Fly Beyond pilot program and results as a road map for collaborations with other food banks or for others to implement similar programs.

“Fueling up takes on a whole new meaning with Fly Beyond. We hope this new pilot program inspires goodness by making fresh, healthy foods conveniently available to families to create nutritious meals at home without worrying about how to afford it. Having greater access to fresh produce will improve the ability of kids in our communities to learn, lead and succeed,” said Robert Yeatts, senior director of Florida operations, Wawa.

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.

TravelCenters of America Supports Truckers Relief Fund

TravelCenters of America Inc. launched its annual Round Up campaign in support of the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund (SCF). From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, customers at participating TA, Petro and TA Express locations can round up their purchase to the nearest dollar. The difference will be donated directly to SCF to help support professional drivers who have experienced an injury or illness that has taken them off the road within the last year.

7-Eleven Brings Back Operation Chill

Now in its 28th year, Operation Chill allows law enforcement officers to create positive connections by awarding a coupon to kids they see doing good deeds or exhibiting positive behavior—which can be redeemed for a free small Slurpee drink at any participating 7-Eleven, Speedway or Stripes store. This summer marks the first time kids are able to redeem their Slurpee drink coupons at their local Speedway store. Since its inception in 1995, Operation Chill has expanded to hundreds of cities across the country, donating more than 24 million coupons to U.S. law enforcement agencies in 7-Eleven Inc. communities.

Rutters Raises Over $880,000 for Kids

Rutter’s Children’s Charities announced that its 21st Annual Charity Golf Outing, held in May, raised over $880,000 to benefit local charities. This marks the largest amount raised at the outing since its inception. The annual two-day golf event began in 2003 and has helped Rutter’s Children’s Charities raise over $4.7 million to support local children’s charities in Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia over the past 21 years.

Love’s Supports OK City Zoo Expansion

Love’s Travel Stops donated $1 million to the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden’s newest habitat expansion, Expedition Africa. Opening in June, Expedition Africa is the zoo’s most ambitious and immersive conservation habitat experience in its history. An iconic feature of Expedition Africa is the zoo’s historic pachyderm building proudly sponsored by Love’s Travel Stops. The building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was constructed in the early 1960s to provide habitat space for the zoo’s elephants, rhinoceroses and hippopotamuses.

Pilot Company Honors Veterans with $100K

In honor of Military Appreciation Month in May, Pilot Company donated $100,000 to Hire Heroes USA in an effort to further its commitment to helping veterans transition back into the workforce. USA Heroes is an organization dedicated to providing employment opportunities to U.S. military veterans and spouses.

Crosby’s Presents $86,805 Donation

Crosby’s and Reid Petroleum Corp. donated $86,000 to the Patricia Allen Fund benefiting John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital in Buffalo, NY. Crosby’s offered multiple ways for customers to support pediatric critical care through a variety of donation programs. Lenny Smith, vice president and general manager of Crosby’s, stated: “Our Crosby’s customers really responded to supporting the Hospital. Donations through our fuel pumps and customers enjoying the Bills Mafia endorsed signature The Mafia Pizza proved to be a huge success!”