Event celebrates first responders while raising
funds for disaster relief
On Wednesday, July 24, also known as 24/7 Day, the U.S.
convenience store industry will celebrate the local heroes within
its communities—and all they do for others—in times of need. Hosted
by the NACS Foundation, 24/7 Day recognizes and gives back to first
responders, police, fire, EMTs, doctors, nurses, health
practitioners, medical personnel, 9-1-1 professionals and Red Cross
volunteers all of whom work around the clock to ensure people don’t
face emergencies alone.
This year’s event, themed “Here for Heroes, Here for You,”
recognizes these heroes by offering a token of gratitude from one
of their largest supporters—the convenience store industry. Across
the country, more than 60 retailers and suppliers representing
approximately 30,000 stores will each have a unique offer (such as
free coffee, free meals or branded merchandise) that any first
responder can claim by wearing their uniform or showing a badge.
The event will also raise awareness and donations for the American
Red Cross.
“The 24/7 Day celebration was born from the realization that
there is a deep connection between first responders and the
convenience store community. Our mutual workforce provides
essential services in times of great need, while also acting as a
reliable and safe hub for connection and socialization,” said
Stephanie Sikorski, executive director of the NACS Foundation.
“We’ve heard too often that ‘nothing good happens after
zero-dark-thirty,’ but our research shows that these small hours
are actually when first responders and convenience stores unite
across a range of critical community efforts, from setting up for a
disaster relief effort or simply getting a healthy snack or drink
during a shift to keep energy high. We are proud to support these
efforts, which keep our communities strong.”
Convenience stores are an integral part of everyday life across
the United States. There are more than 152,000 convenience stores
across the country, which conduct 160 million transactions a
day.
This year, more than 30,000 convenience stores are expected to
participate in the 24/7 Day celebration including: 1-Stop, Admiral,
Allsup’s and Yesway, Apple Market, BreadBox, Casey’s, Certified
Oil, CFCA, Cumberland Farms, Delek, Enmarket, Express Stop, E-Z
Mart, fas mart, fastmarket, Fastrac, FavTrip, Flash Market,
Garrett’s Family Market and Rapid Refill Convenience Stores, Handy
Mart, High’s, Hop Shops, Huck’s, Jiffi Stop, Jiffy Stop Food Marts,
KwikShop, Loaf ‘N Jug, Li’l Cricket, Loop Neighborhood Markets,
Minit Mart, Next Door Store, OnCue, On the Run, Onvo, Poppy Market,
Pride, Quarles, QuickStop Markets, R Store, RaceTrac, Roadrunner
Markets, Rutter’s, Scotchman, Sheetz, shore stop, Sprint Food
Stores, Sprint Mart, St. Romain Oil Co./Y-Not Stop, The Convenience
Group, The Hub Convenience Stores, The Markets of Tiger Fuel
Company, Tom Thumb, Town Star, TXB, Turkey Hill Minit Markets,
UNCLE’s, Village Pantry, Young’s, and Wawa and The Wawa
Foundation.
Additionally, supplier partners including Keurig Dr Pepper,
NENA: The 9-1-1 Association and GSTV are also supporting the effort
through a range of efforts and offers.
Participating retailers each support 24/7 Day in their own
unique way, offering everything from free coffee, fountain and
frozen drinks to free meals and merchandise. All that is required
is for first responders to arrive in uniform or with a badge. Other
convenience stores, like Wawa, celebrate their partnership with the
American Red Cross by mailing 15,000 free hot beverage coupons to
American Red Cross volunteers to thank them for their service and
use the day to announce in-store customer fundraising results that
support disaster relief efforts in the community. A full list of
participants, as well as what each store is offering, is available
at 247Day.org.
“We hope you will join us in supporting the heroes who are
always here for us, helping others and giving so much of themselves
in times of incredible need,” said Nathan Measom, director of cause
marketing for the American Red Cross. “Our continued partnership
with the NACS Foundation is one of the most important ways we
highlight the work done each year in communities across the United
States, which is not often seen by the public. It’s our honor to
shine a light on these heroes and thank them for their incredible
effort.”
In addition to visiting a convenience store on 24/7 Day, the
NACS Foundation invites the public to also take part by:
- Donating to the American Red Cross directly to support the work
they do in communities
- Use the hashtag #247Day to show how you support your hometown
heroes
- Share stories of appreciation for first responders, medical
personnel, 9-1-1 professionals, Red Cross volunteers and other
local heroes in their community on social media, tagging
#247Day
About the NACS Foundation
NACS Foundation is the 501(c)3 charitable arm of NACS, the
global industry association dedicated to advancing convenience and
fuel retailing. In partnership with fuel retail, convenience and
suppliers across the U.S., the NACS Foundation propels brighter
futures by unifying and amplifying the philanthropic and charitable
activities of the industry in communities across America. To learn
more, visit conveniencecares.org, or visit us on Facebook at
@TheNACSFoundation and Twitter at @NACS_Foundation.
About NACS
For more than 60 years, NACS has been recognized as the premiere
association for convenience and fuel retailers. NACS has more than
1,000 retail member companies that cumulatively represent more than
200,000 stores in 50-plus countries, including 90,000 stores in the
United States alone. The U.S. convenience store industry, with more
than 152,000 stores nationwide selling fuel, food and merchandise,
conducts 160 million transactions daily and had sales of $860
billion in 2023. For more information, visit convenience.org.
Follow NACS on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240715431137/en/
Jeff Lenard | jlenard@convenience.org