GLASTONBURY, CT and WESTMINSTER, MD - L.E. Belcher stores in Connecticut and Massachusetts decked their walls, windows, counters and any other available space in November and December with holiday-themed stocking mobiles purchased by their customers, raising more than $22,000 in support of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).
The amount raised this past winter is more than three times the amount generated in 2009. Nathan Deyo, the company??s director of retail operations, credits L.E. Belcher??s frontline employees for the sizeable increase.
"The team at L.E. Belcher Inc. is proud of the outstanding effort our dedicated frontline team members demonstrated in achieving this goal. This year, we more than tripled the money raised over last year??s holiday drive. We are thankful of their efforts, and most importantly, the support of our customers and their extreme generosity."
L.E. Belcher was recognized for its achievement at a recent gathering of CITGO marketers. Deyo and the company??s manager of retail operations, Paul Morrissey, were presented with a Silver Award from a representative of the local MDA chapter as a token of appreciation for their efforts.
L.E. Belcher also participates in MDA??s well-known Shamrocks Against Dystrophy campaign, selling mobiles in the shape of shamrocks that customers purchase and sign. The shamrocks are then displayed throughout the store during the St. Patrick??s Day season. In 2010, the company??s MDA Shamrocks program raised $14,984. L.E. Belcher has just completed its 2011 Shamrocks campaign. The program results are not yet available; however, the company is striving to beat last year??s total.
Meanwhile, in Maryland, Jiffy Mart stores in Carroll County helped raise money to support the St. Jude??s Children??s Research Hospital during the month of February. The stores sold enough "boots" to raise nearly $4,900, which exceeded last years total.
"We really enjoy getting out and working to help those in need in the communities we serve. We pride ourselves in being the hometown convenience store in the county," said Tom Moser, general manager of Jiffy Mart.
The effort was successful because of the teamwork among store teams and the Jiffy Mart office staff. The store teams asked each customer if they would like to buy a boot to "Boot out Cancer."
Dwayne Cover, Jiffy Mart??s business manager said, "Our associates really got into it this year. They had a good time while helping such a great cause."
Jiffy Mart is a division of Tevis Oil and operates convenience stores exclusively in Carroll County including Westminster, Finksburg and Hampstead.
L.E. Belcher is a family-owned, full-service energy provider of wholesale petroleum products, including heating oil, branded and unbranded gasoline, as well as convenience offerings through their retail chain of convenience stores. The company originated in western Massachusetts 80 years ago and has expanded to Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.