Wawa Thanks Veterans with Free Coffee Offer, Ships 5,000 Care Packages to Troops Serving Abroad, and Presents USO with Proceeds from The Wawa Foundation Customer Donation Summer Campaign
WAWA, Pa., Nov. 08, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wawa, Inc., today announced that this Veterans Day, the company will once again offer free coffee of any size to veterans, active military members and their families, all day, with no military ID required. This will take place on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, at all of Wawa’s more than 800 stores throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, DC and Florida. Throughout the day, Wawa expects to give away more than 250,000 cups of coffee, thanking these dedicated men and women and their families for their service.
“At Wawa supporting our military is part of our DNA and each year, Veterans Day gives us a chance to thank our troops, and, in our own small way, give something back to the dedicated men and women who protect the independence we all celebrate,” said Chris Gheysens, Wawa’s President and CEO. “Once again, we plan to honor our military and their families with free coffee on Veterans Day, and also through a massive care package assembly at our Wawa headquarters the Thursday before Veterans Day. Since 2002, we’ve been providing troops abroad with a taste of home through our coffee care packages, and we are passionate about continuing this tradition for years to come.”
Operation Taste of Home care packages are an annual tradition organized by Wawa Associates and supported by the USO of Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey (Liberty USO) who together help send more than 5,000 care packages to our troops currently deployed. This Thursday, Nov. 8, Wawa associates will team up with the USO and Army National Guard to assemble more than 5,000 care packages to be sent to our troops abroad. In addition, The Wawa Foundation will present a check to the USO for more than $850,000, all raised through in-store coin and scan campaigns held at every Wawa store during the summer of 2018. The funds go to the local USO Chapters located throughout Wawa’s operating area.
During the past two decades, Wawa has sent hundreds of thousands of cups of coffee and care packages to troops overseas who have written to request it. Partnering with the Liberty USO to formally send care packages to the troops is just one of the many ways Wawa shows support and thanks for the great men and women who serve our country.
About Wawa
Wawa, Inc., a privately held company, began in 1803 as an iron foundry in New Jersey. Toward the end of the 19th Century, owner George Wood took an interest in dairy farming and the family began a small processing plant in Wawa, PA in 1902. The milk business was a huge success, due to its quality, cleanliness and “certified” process. As home delivery of milk declined in the early 1960’s, Grahame Wood, George’s grandson, opened the first Wawa Food Market in 1964 as an outlet for its dairy products. Today, Wawa is your all day, every day stop for freshly prepared foods, beverages, coffee, fuel services, and surcharge-free ATMs. A chain of more than 800 convenience retail stores (almost 600 offering gasoline), Wawa stores are located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and DC. Wawa stores offer a large fresh food service selection, including Wawa brands such as custom prepared hoagies, freshly-brewed coffee, hot breakfast sandwiches, specialty beverages, and an assortment of soups, sides and snacks. In 2015, Wawa was named “America’s Most Beloved Convenience Store” by a Market Force study of 7,000 consumers, and in 2018 Wawa ranked #1 in the sandwich category of a Market Force study, making history as the first convenience to earn that honor. In 2017 Wawa was the recipient of a Silver Plate Award in the category of Retail & Specialty Foodservice by the International Foodservice Manufacturers’ Association during their 63rd Annual Award Event. Wawa was also designated as a 2017 Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. In 2016 and 2017 Wawa was recognized in Forbes as one of America’s Best Large Employers, a survey-based ranking of employers offering the best associate experiences and strongest opportunities. A chain of more than 800 fuel and convenience retail stores (600+ offering gasoline), Wawa stores are located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, D.C. and Florida. The stores offer a large fresh food service selection, including Wawa brands such as award winning built-to-order sandwiches and hoagies, freshly-brewed coffee, hot breakfast sandwiches, built-to-order Specialty Beverages, and an assortment of soups, sides and snacks.
Contact: public.relations@wawa.com