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<\/a><\/a>\nThis year\u2019s theme \u201cServing Up Thanks\u201d speaks directly to the unique relationship between the convenience store industry and first responders. As some of the only stores open around the clock, especially in times of emergency or disaster, convenience stores have a front-row seat to the bravery, sacrifice and dedication that first responders show their communities without asking anything in return. In honor of this, more than 105 convenience retailing companies and brands representing tens of thousands of stores in all 50 states will serve up tokens of thanks \u2014 including free coffee, free meals or branded merchandise \u2014 for first responders and Red Cross volunteers in uniform or with a valid badge.<\/p>
\n\u201cWe know first responders don\u2019t do it for recognition \u2014 they do it because they genuinely care about people,\u201d said Kevin O\u2019Connell, executive director of the NACS Foundation. \u201cEvery year, we gather as an industry to honor this commitment because we see first-hand the sacrifice, dedication, and bravery it takes to run toward danger when the rest of us need to evacuate or flee. This is an important moment to recognize those that keep us safe.\u201d<\/p>
\nFIRST RESPONDER OF THE YEAR<\/b><\/p>
\nThe NACS Foundation is also honoring outstanding individuals who go above and beyond in service to their communities through its First Responder of the Year Award<\/a> program. The winner will be announced on July 24 and receive:<\/p> \nParticipating retailers support 24\/7 Day with a tailored offer to first responders. A full list of participants, as well as what each store is offering, is available at www.247day.org,<\/a> and a map sharing the location of each participating store in the country is at www.247Day.org\/map<\/a>.<\/p> \nThis year, the celebration includes: 36 Lyn Refuel Station, Allsup\u2019s and Yesway, bp, Car-Go Express, Casey\u2019s, CFCA, Chestnut Market, Circle K, Coen Markets, Cubby\u2019s, Dara\u2019s Corner Market, EG America brands (Certified Oil, Cumberland Farms, Fastrac, Kwik Shop, Loaf \u2018N Jug, Minit Mart, Quik Stop Markets, Sprint Food Stores, Tom Thumb, Turkey Hill Minit Markets<\/i>), Estepp\u2019s, Fastime, FavTrip, Garrett\u2019s Family Market and Rapid Refill Convenience Stores, Gas N Wash, Good 2 Go, Global Partners brands (Alltown, Alltown Fresh, Honey Farms, Honey Farms Market, Jiffy Mart, Millers, Mr. Mike\u2019s, T-Bird Minit Mart, Wheels and Xtramart)<\/i> GPM Investment Brands (1-Stop, Admiral, Apple Market, BreadBox, Express Stop, E-Z Mart, fas mart, fastmarket, Flash Market, Handy Mart, Jiffi Stop, Jiffy Stop Food Marts, Li\u2019l Cricket, Next Door Store, Pride, Quarles, R Store, Roadrunner Markets, Scotchman, shore stop, Town Star, UNCLE\u2019S, Village Pantry, Youngs<\/i>), High\u2019s, Hop Shops, Hy-Vee\u2019s Fast and Fresh, Kwik Trip, Latitudes, Loop Neighborhood Markets, Minit Mart, Minuteman Food Mart, Mountain View Co-op, OnCue, On the Run, Onvo, Par Pacific Brands (Hele and NomNom<\/i>), Onvo, Parker\u2019s Kitchen, Poppy Market, Power Market Quik Mart, RaceTrac, Rhodes, Rmarts, Rutter\u2019s, Sapp Bros, Sheetz, Shop \u201cn\u201d Save Market, Spinx, Sprint Mart, St. Romain Oil Co.\/Y-Not Stop, The Gas Spot, The Hub Convenience Stores, The Markets of Tiger Fuel Company, Toot\u2019n Totum, Thorntons, TXB, U-Stop Convenience Shops, United Pacific (Rocket and Alta Convenience<\/i>), Wawa and the Wawa Foundation, and Weigel\u2019s.<\/p> \nLeading supplier brands donating for the second year in a row to the NACS Foundation and its Response Relief pillar include Reynolds American, SEI Investments, Rovertown and XCaliber. Additionally, retail partner Loop Neighborhood also supported the effort with a generous donation.<\/p> \n\"Whether responding to disasters, collecting lifesaving blood, supporting military families or helping communities prepare for emergencies, the American Red Cross sees firsthand the compassion and dedication that our volunteers bring to their communities every day,\" said Nathan Measom, senior director of national cause marketing for the American Red Cross. \"We're honored that these everyday heroes are recognized alongside first responders, and we're grateful to the NACS Foundation and thousands of convenience stores nationwide for reminding them that their service never goes unnoticed.\u201d<\/p> \nThe NACS Foundation invites the public to join in 24\/7 Day celebrations by visiting a participating convenience store on 24\/7 Day and share appreciation stories on social media using #247Day and #conveniencecares<\/p> \nAbout the NACS Foundation<\/b><\/p> \nNACS 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<\/a>, or visit us on Facebook at @TheNACSFoundation<\/a> and X at @NACS_Foundation<\/a>.<\/p> \nAbout NACS<\/b><\/p> \nFor 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 $837 billion in 2024. For more information, visit convenience.org<\/a>. Follow NACS on LinkedIn<\/a>, X<\/a>, Facebook<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n