Milan, Ohio-based Mickey Mart is empowering kids in its community to try their hand at illustrated storytelling, a dynamic way to engage readers and an important tool in a kid’s communication toolbox.

Libraries across Ohio support the Mickey Mart How to Draw Comics program, which is part of Mickey Mart’s Fuels Schools Education Initiative. The program hosts two classes: character drawing for kids ages 8-12, and a comic creation track for kids ages 12-17.

Mickey Mart places great importance on being a valuable member of every community it serves, which is why the company seeks out opportunities to do something special for kids. As part of this commitment, Mickey Mart underwrites the costs for all the classes, allowing libraries to offer the program free of charge to any interested student.

The classes were developed and are taught by the creators of the “Mickey the Moose Adventure Comics,” which detail the fictional adventure of Mickey Mart’s real mascot. Writer Scott Rudge and artist Kelly Walt have published six “Mickey the Moose” comics, including the recently released “Mickey the Moose Puzzle Adventure #1.”

The company seeks out opportunities to do something special for kids.

“I was 10 years old when I took a class similar to this one,” said Rudge. “Even though the class only lasted a couple of hours, we learned a few little tricks that could be applied to anything we tried to draw from that point on. It was very valuable to me at the time. With these classes, we try to capture that same value.”

Mickey Mart is planning as many as six class dates for 2020.

Wisconsin Retailers Combat Human Trafficking

The Wisconsin Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association (WPMCA) teamed up with Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, Wisconsin State Patrol and the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) to increase understanding within the convenience store industry about human trafficking. January was Human Trafficking Awareness Month.

“By identifying suspicious activity and reporting it to law enforcement, convenience store and gas station employees can help law enforcement fight human trafficking,” said Kaul. “This partnership will help more people know the signs of human trafficking and what to do when they see those signs.”

WPMCA Chairman Andrew Bowman of Stop-N-Go of Madison commented: “Our industry employs over 50,000 people and operates nearly 3,000 convenience stores across the state, and we are constantly interacting with the motoring public. We are excited to join the fight to prevent this horrible crime.”

The state agencies will provide WPMCA and its members with training and materials to raise awareness about human trafficking and what convenience store managers and employees can do if trafficking is suspected. The partnership is being managed by the Wisconsin Department of Justice.

For more information about human trafficking, including victim services, statutes and industry specific materials for the state of Wisconsin, visit www.BeFreeWisconsin.com.

Parker’s recently donated $2,500 to Susan G. Komen Coastal Georgia, helping the nonprofit organization offer breast cancer screenings, support services and ongoing education to area residents. Every year, Parker’s donates a portion of the proceeds from the sale of pink Breast Cancer Awareness refillable cups to Susan G. Komen® Coastal Georgia.

Good Oil Company partnered with the Knox Community School Corporation to help schools purchase Raptor security pass systems. The company raised $7,843.70 for school safety. “As a company, we are a firm believer that being able to give back to the communities that we serve is a vital part of our core values,” said Good Oil Company President and CEO Don Good.

The Greater Austin Merchants Cooperative Association (GAMA), a Central Texas retailers’ association that includes some NACS members, recently donated more than $58,000 to Susan G. Komen Greater Central & East Texas to support its annual fundraising campaign.