Convenience stores serve 165 million people every day—approximately half of the U.S. population. The proximity of stores and retailers’ close relationships with the communities they serve give our industry the ability to help lead positive change on issues like fighting human trafficking.
Per the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign, traffickers and victims may utilize convenience stores to purchase food and other goods, gas or to use the restroom. If convenience retail employees learn how to recognize and report suspected human trafficking, they may be able to help victims leave their trafficking situation and keep traffickers from harming more people.
NACS has been a Blue Campaign program participant since 2017 to help retailers recognize the indicators of human trafficking and how to appropriately respond to possible cases. NACS recently worked with the Blue Campaign to develop a new resource, “Human Trafficking Awareness Guide for Convenience Retail Employees,” which highlights what human trafficking is, the indicators and how to report the crime.
“Convenience retailers can play a significant role in combating human trafficking because of their presence in virtually every community—urban, suburban and rural—as well as their often 24/7 operations. Because convenience retail employees observe and communicate with the public so frequently, they are in a unique position to observe indicators of human trafficking while working,” said Jonathan Barry, the campaign coordinator for the Blue Campaign.
NACS also works with IN OUR BACKYARD’s Convenience Stores Against Trafficking (CSAT) program to amplify the important role of convenience stores to help raise awareness about human trafficking. More than 20,000 Freedom Stickers have been posted in convenience stores, and 17 state-based convenience store associations and 184 convenience store companies have partnered with CSAT. In recognition of the c-store industry’s contributions, NACS Vice President of Strategic Industry Initiatives Jeff Lenard was named IN OUR BACKYARD’s 2020 “Hero of the Year.”
“Consumers tell us that they have more favorable opinions of business that address important societal issues like fighting human trafficking. A September 2018 NACS consumer survey revealed that 40% of respondents believe human trafficking is an issue that they want our industry to be engaged in fighting, and a February 2019 survey found that 90% say they have a more favorable opinion of stores who fight human trafficking,” said Lenard.
NACS has more information and resources for retailers to help fight human trafficking here.
IN THE COMMUNITY
OnCue convenience stores and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma partnered to release a limited-edition cup that will raise funds for its mentoring programs across the state. For every cup sold, OnCue will contribute 50 cents to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma. The cups retail for $1.99 and are available through the end of March.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma. The mentoring connection isn’t just the beginning of a friendship, it’s the spark of a long-lasting impact on a child’s life,” said Laura Aufleger, president of OnCue. “Big Brothers Big Sisters has a special place in my heart as I served as a Big for many years. One to one mentoring can truly change a child’s trajectory, and we need this now more than ever.”
CEFCO Convenience Stores presented Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals representatives with a check for $400,000 in early January. The funds will benefit Baylor Scott & White McLane Children's Medical Center and 15 other CMN Hospitals.
The donation comes from CEFCO’s annual 2020 campaign that ran from September 21–October 30, 2020. Since 1999, CEFCO has been serving the children of its community by raising more than $5 million for local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals located in Texas and other southern states.
From L to R: Lori Luppino, director of philanthropy, McLane Children’s Hospital; Kim Fikes, CAO of The Fikes Companies; Ken Rowland, COO of CEFCO; Raymond Smith, president of The Fikes Companies.
In December 2020, Tiger Fuel Company donated $20,000 to childhood cancer research in Walker Beery’s name to The St. Baldrick’s Foundation. In August 2019, Walker was diagnosed with medulloblastoma. With support from Tiger Fuel Company, Walker’s family and his supporters created the With Walker St. Baldrick’s Hero Fund.
“Walker has touched the hearts of many people within the Tiger Fuel family, and we are honored to support him and his fight against cancer,” said Gordon Sutton, president of Tiger Fuel Company. “In lieu of holiday gifts like wreaths and gift baskets that we typically send to our customers, we decided to make a meaningful contribution in their honor. The $20,000 With Walker Hero Fund will be dedicated toward research for a cure for pediatric brain tumors and immunotherapy.”