Despite the chill in the air, thoughts have been on summer vacation at the Pop Shoppe CITGO station at 3512 Kivett Drive in High Point, N.C. The store was one of 21 locally owned Pop Shoppes that raised money through the Shamrocks Against Dystrophy program to send kids with muscular dystrophy to summer camp.

 

After receiving a fantastic response from the local community, the station was able to raise more than $5,200, enough to send six children with debilitating neuromuscular diseases to camp.

 

“We know the economy is bad,” said Pat St. Louis, manager of the Kivett Drive Pop Shoppe CITGO station. “But we absolutely believe that if you give, you will receive. My niece has muscular dystrophy, and I’ve seen how much she gets out of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Camp, so we are very much committed to helping as many kids as we can throughout the year.”

 

To raise as much money as possible, the store instituted an “every customer, every time” policy which helped them raise more than $5,200, beating their target of $4,000.

 

“We asked people to donate every time they came in the store,” said St. Louis. “Even if they are one of our regular customers who come in every day, you never know when they might have a little extra money.”

 

In coordination with local petroleum distributor Mid-State Petroleum, Inc., Pop Shoppe CITGO stores across the High Point, N.C. area raised approximately $18,000 for MDA this year through CITGO Petroleum’s Shamrocks Against Dystrophy program. These funds are matched, dollar for dollar, by CITGO.

 

“I’ve visited MDA’s Camp Carefree in Stokesdale, N.C. and seen the good that this money does for the children and their families,” said Nelson Perez, president of Mid-State Petroleum. “I’m proud of how hard Pop Shoppe employees work to raise funds, and also the generosity of the community members who donate money for this great cause.”

 

Pop Shoppe stores across North Carolina will continue to collect money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association throughout the year. People can visit any of the 21 area Pop Shoppes, including the location at 3512 Kivett Drive, to make a donation. Mid-State Petroleum will also be continuing its annual golf tournament this year and hopes to break last year’s total fundraising figure of approximately $50,000 for MDA.

 

CITGO operates 7,000 convenience stores and gas stations across 27 states.