Alexandria, VA – July
2024 / NewsmakerAlert: 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. This year, 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:
As the leading global trade association for convenience and fuel retailers, National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) advances the role of convenience stores as positive economic, social and philanthropic contributors to the communities they serve and is a trusted adviser to its retailer and supplier members from more than 50 countries. The U.S. convenience store industry, with more than 152,000 stores, conducts more than 160 million transactions daily and had sales of $860 billion in 2023. For more information, visit www.Convenience.org. Follow NACS on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. NACS
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