Findings from recent NACS Consumer Surveys suggest that convenience stores are indeed community stores. Or to paraphrase Sally Field’s 1984 Academy Award acceptance speech, “They like you, they really like you!”

The latest 2019 survey shows that 77% of consumers say convenience stores share their values and do business ethically and responsibly, a sharp 9-point increase from 2016. Consumers like what they see at convenience stores, which goes well beyond the products sold. They appreciate how stores operate and reinvent the idea of convenience, as well as understand how stores are a part of the community.

Most consumers (86%) also agree that convenience stores are good neighbors, and more than eight in 10 (82%) support a c-store being built or opened in their community.

Speaking of doing business the right way, a September survey suggests that consumers like having a retailer in the community that is responsible, offers healthier food and beverage choices and provides jobs—revealing that consumers who weren’t necessarily favorable to a new c-store in the past are becoming more receptive to having a c-store presence in their community:

When it comes to supporting charitable causes and local organizations, U.S. convenience stores collect or contribute $1.03 billion to charities annually, with the median charitable contribution nearly $4,000 per store in direct contributions and more than $3,000 in donations per store collected, according to a 2018 NACS survey of retail operators.

Knowing that most convenience stores already support charitable causes, we asked consumers in 2018 which societal issues they think their local convenience store could help address:

“C-store” doesn’t just stand for convenience store; it stands for community store, and NACS consumer surveys continue to demonstrate that retailers are committed to and invested in the communities they serve.

In January, Energy North Group (ENG), with support from Snyder’s-Lance, Frito-Lay and Pepsi, provided 895 lunches to Logan Airport Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees during the U.S. government shutdown. ENG also provided the TSA workforce with 3,500 Mobil- and Gulf-branded gas gift cards pre-loaded with $20.

Stillwater, Oklahoma-based OnCue presented $10,000 to local United Way organizations following a successful fundraising cup campaign. OnCue sold more than 16,500 United Way collectors’ cups during the late-2018 campaign, giving 50 cents from each cup directly to the store’s local United Way.

In January, Carroll Motor Fuels and High’s donated more than $3,500 in gas and grocery gift cards and various items collected during a food drive to help federal employees affected by the government shutdown.

Alta Convenience stores raised $100,000 for Make-A-Wish through the Buy-A-Star, Make-A-Wish in-store donation campaign. Since 2013, Alta stores have raised more than $300,000, with $100,000 raised for the Star Campaign in 2018.

CEFCO Convenience Stores donated $406,284 to 15 Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) hospitals across the seven states in which CEFCO operates. CEFCO partnered with CMN in 1999 and has since raised more than $4.45 million for the organization.

VERC Enterprises presented a $500 check to the Trinity Catholic Academy in Brockton, Massachusetts, a grant through the ExxonMobil Educational Alliance Program.