Ensuring No Kid Goes Hungry

Ensuring No Kid Goes Hungry

August 2021   minute read

Kum & Go is fighting childhood hunger and food insecurity in its home state of Iowa by partnering with No Kid Hungry.

The Des Moines-based convenience retailer has teamed up with Midwest Dairy, BODYARMOR, KIND, LifeWtr and Essentia throughout the summer to raise $85,000 for No Kid Hungry and give back to the communities they serve.

“Thirteen million children in the United States live in food insecure homes,” said Emily Bahnsen, Kum & Go philanthropy manager. “It is a privilege for Kum & Go to be part of this program with a host of generous vendors who are committed to a better tomorrow.”

“We are incredibly grateful for our new partnership with Kum & Go,” said Allison Shuffield, managing director at Share Our Strength, the organization behind the No Kid Hungry campaign. “With the continued support of committed partners like them, No Kid Hungry is helping children all over the country get the nutritious food they need to succeed.”

High’s Celebrates Employees

To show appreciation to current and future associates, High’s launched a campaign in June to thank frontline staff.

“Our goal at High’s is to deliver the best guest experience, and we would not be able to accomplish this without our store associates.” said Brad Chivington, senior vice president and general manager of Baltimore, Maryland-based High’s. “Attracting and retaining top talent is a priority for High’s. Investing in our associates with competitive wages and providing a clear career path for our associates to see their experience at High’s as a steppingstone, learning valuable skills or even as a potential career.”

June 14 kicked off employee appreciation week, which included a series of themed dress-up days. To show appreciation to the High’s retail staff, the corporate office staff visited stores throughout the week to support the theme of the day and raffled off summer-themed gifts and prizes.

Effective June 21, High’s committed to increasing hourly associate wages by $1 an hour. An attendance bonus rolled out in July for hourly retail associates. Along with the wage increase, the starting wage also increased by $1 an hour, and potential new hires can earn up to $500 in a sign-on bonus.

Tiger Fuel Gives Back

In June, volunteers from Charlottesville, Virginia-based Tiger Fuel joined a team from the Albemarle Housing Improvement Program (AHIP) to help rebuild ramps for a local family with mobility challenges so they can get around their home.

Also in June, Tiger Fuel’s gourmet-to-go convenience stores, The Markets, launched a round-up campaign to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Blue Ridge in Virginia. Through September 30, customers can round up their transaction to the nearest whole dollar at select Market locations to support Big Brothers Big Sisters, where 100% of the funds will benefit the nonprofit.

Gordon Sutton, president of Tiger Fuel, serves as a mentor and was named Virginia’s Big Brother of the Year in 2019. “The opportunity to give back to BBBS of the Central Blue Ridge means a lot to me. As a Big Brother for six years, I’ve experienced firsthand the immeasurable impact the mentoring model has on children’s lives. This pandemic has placed tremendous strains on resources and relationships, and I would love to do what we can to support BBBS of the Central Blue Ridge,” he said.

EG America Supports Veterans

Westborough, Massachusetts-based EG America launched a national campaign to raise funds for Disabled American Veterans (DAV). The donations will help DAV ensure that injured and ill veterans access the full range of benefits available to them and are another way that the EG Group is giving back to the communities where it operates.

From June through July, store employees asked customers to donate an amount of their choosing to DAV at checkout. Funds donated will help veterans:

  • Find meaningful employment
  • Receive assistance during times of disaster
  • Get the benefits they deserve
  • Receive transportation to medical appointments

EG America brands participating in the DAV promotion include Cumberland Farms, Certified Oil, Fastrac, Kwik Shop, Loaf 'N Jug, Minit Mart, Quik Stop, Tom Thumb and Turkey Hill. “Recognizing and giving back to those who have served our country is vitally important to the EG Group, which is why we are proud to partner with DAV in this important initiative,” said George Fournier, president, EG America. “Many of our team members and guests are veterans themselves, so this association with DAV allows them to connect with the communities where they live and work in a meaningful way. This fundraising effort hits home for the EG Group, and we’re looking forward to our guests playing a key role in this effort.”

GPM Investments Helps Virginia Nonprofit

GPM Investments, a subsidiary of ARKO Corp., said its fas mart stores in Virginia helped to raise $23,326 for Friendship Circle of Virginia’s inaugural Walk N’ Roll, which took place Sunday, June 20. Friendship Circle of Virginia is a nonprofit that aims to create an inclusive community by facilitating friendships and social opportunities for people with and without disabilities to connect through meaningful social experiences at home and throughout the community.

More than 250 individuals participated in the event, which encouraged participants to walk, roll, ride a scooter or skate to raise money for the Friendship Circle of Virginia. GPM supported the event by providing fas mart Fuel Up stations around the course, as well as a petting zoo, pony rides, snow cones, cotton candy, swag bags
and more.

“We truly enjoy working with organizations in our community,” said Michael Bloom, executive vice president and chief marketing and merchandising officer. “We’re proud to have been an event sponsor for the inaugural Walk N’ Roll event and help support local nonprofits in Richmond, and we look forward to more opportunities to partner in the future.”