Presents USO with $770,000 check from Wawa’s Summer Campaign.
Wawa Inc. celebrated Veterans Day last week by offering offer free coffee of any size to veterans, active military members and their families, all day, with no military ID required.
The giveaway will took place on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2015, at all of Wawa’s more than 700 stores throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Florida.
Before the event, Wawa said it expected 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 brave men and women who protect the freedoms we all celebrate,” said Chris Gheysens, Wawa’s president and CEO. “This year we’re excited to honor our military and their families with this free coffee giveaway on Veterans Day, and through a massive care package assembly at Wawa University today, the day 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
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 thousands of care packages to our troops currently deployed. On Nov. 10, 2015, Wawa teamed 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 presented a check to the USO for $770,000 all raised through Wawa in-store coin and scancampaigns held during the 2nd & 3rd Quarter of 2015.
“Our hope is that when service members overseas open these care packages they are reminded that our country appreciates their service and the sacrifices they make for us,” said Lisa Anastasi, USO chief development officer. “The USO is truly grateful for the generosity of Wawa and its customers. We strive to keep the men and women of our military connected to their loved ones and country throughout their service. Partnerships like this make the USO’s mission possible.”
Throughout the years, Wawa has sent hundreds of thousands of cups of coffee and care packages to the 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 keep our country safe.
