Sheetz Employees Volunteer To Make The Holidays Special For Local Families

ALTOONA, Pa., Dec. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- For the past 24 years, Sheetz for the Kidz has partnered with The Salvation Army to host Christmas parties and make the holiday season brighter for more than 100,000 underprivileged kids across the Mid-Atlantic. Sheetz for the Kidz is a 501 (c)(3) employee operated charitable organization that raises funds through in-store customer donations during the months of July and December, proceeds from Sheetz for the Kidz bottled water sales and the annual "Sheetz for the Kidz Golf Classic," as well as, other fundraising events throughout the year.

This holiday season, each of Sheetz's 535 stores will support 16 children from their local communities by partnering with The Salvation Army to receive wish lists from local families. Sheetz employees volunteer their time to shop, wrap and host holiday parties for the children and their families. At the holiday parties, Santa will greet the children and present them with new toys, clothes and other basic needs purchased specifically for them. The children and their families will enjoy food, crafts, games and an opportunity to take pictures with Santa.

"We are so grateful for our giving and loyal customers and the assistance from generous partners for helping us make holiday wishes come true for thousands of children in the communities we serve," said Sarah Piper, Executive Director of Sheetz for the Kidz. "It is very important to Sheetz to give back to the communities that support us as a business, and we are honored to spread some Christmas cheer to local families. This charity was started with the goodwill of two Sheetz employees back in 1992; it's incredible to see its growth and that the charity and the communities have now helped over 100,000 children."   

This year also marks the 12^th consecutive year of Sheetz for the Kidz partnering with Make-A-Wish to sponsor families of seriously ill children so they can experience a weeklong dream vacation in Orlando, Florida. Fifty-two families will enjoy an all-expense paid vacation at Give Kids the World Village, a 70-acre, non-profit storybook resort designed to provide special facilities for seriously ill children and their families while taking in the Disney vacation of their dreams. 

100 percent of customer donations go directly to supporting the children in our communities. 

Ways customers can support Sheetz for the Kidz:

• Throughout December, Sheetz offers customers an opportunity to donate at the register.
• Purchase a Sheetz for the Kidz water – 25 cents of every bottle sold goes to support the charity.
• Shop on AmazonSmile and select "Sheetz for the Kidz" as the charity of your choice.  Amazon will donate a portion of your purchases to Sheetz for the Kidz
• Go to www.sheetzforthekidz.org to donate online today.

Since its beginning in 1992, Sheetz for the Kidz, previously named Sheetz Family Charities, has brought smiles to the faces of children in the communities surrounding Sheetz stores in PA, MD, OH, WV, VA and NC, through donations totaling more than $22.9 million.

About Sheetz for the Kidz
Sheetz for the Kidz is a non-profit organization, designated as a 501(c) (3) charity, independent of the Sheetz Corporation. The organization was created in 1992 by local store employees wanting to help local children.  The mission of the charity is to provide support, hope, joy and happiness to children in need within the communities in which Sheetz operates.  To date, the charity has raised more than $22.9 million and helped more than 100,000 children! 

About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for more than 130 years in the United States. Approximately 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through a range of social services: food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar donated to The Salvation Army is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. The Salvation Army tracks the level of need across the country with the Human Needs Index (HumanNeedsIndex.org). For more information, go to salvationarmyusa.org or follow on Twitter @SalvationArmyUS.

About Make-A-Wish
Make-A-Wish grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. According to a 2011 U.S. study of wish impact, most health professionals surveyed believe a wish come true has positive impacts on the health of children. Kids say wishes give them renewed strength to fight their illness, and their parents say these experiences help strengthen the entire family. Headquartered in Phoenix, Make-A-Wish is one of the world's leading children's charities, serving children in every community in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and more than 27,000 volunteers, Make-A-Wish grants a wish somewhere in the country every 37 minutes. It has granted more than 254,000 wishes since its inception in 1980—more than 14,200 in 2014 alone. Visit Make-A-Wish at www.wish.org to learn more.

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SOURCE Sheetz, Inc.

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