The Wawa Foundation is kicking off a campaign to bring awareness to Red Cross Month and ways customers can help the cause.

Wawa and The Wawa Foundation are supporting the American Red Cross with a National Partnership Campaign Kick-Off Event.

The event will take place at the Wawa c-store located at 1260 N. Providence Road, Upper Providence, PA 19063 at 10:00 a.m., to bring awareness to March as Red Cross Month.

More than 75 years ago, March was first proclaimed Red Cross Month in 1943 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to raise awareness of the organization and its humanitarian mission. All U.S. presidents since Roosevelt have designated March as Red Cross Month to recognize how the American Red Cross helps people across the country and around the world through its workforce powered by more than 90% volunteers.

Every eight minutes in the U.S., the Red Cross connects with a family who has lost everything to a home fire or other disaster—the roof over their heads, their clothes, their most cherished possessions.

American Red Cross asks people to be a hero for families by becoming a volunteer, learning lifesaving skills, giving blood or stopping by any Wawa store to donate spare change through The Wawa Foundation’s in-store coin collection campaign running from Monday, Feb. 25, through Sunday, April 14.

“The Wawa Foundation is committed to building strong communities and one of our main areas of focus is to support the heroes who serve our communities every day. We’re pleased to partner with the Red Cross to help them provide life-saving services and assistance to our friends and neighbors in their greatest times of need,” said Jay Culotta, board president, The Wawa Foundation.

“During Red Cross Month, we are proud to recognize our volunteers and community partners who help provide hope and urgent relief to families in need every day,” said Red Cross Regional CEO, Guy Triano. “We thank Wawa for their support year after year that helps us provide care and comfort to families devastated by crises like hurricanes and home fires.”

There are a number of ways customers can help the Red Cross:

• Become a volunteer: Help families affected by disasters and install lifesaving smoke alarms to keep neighbors safe from home fires. In some areas, you can also provide emergency assistance for military members and veterans, or help reconnect families separated by international conflict.
• Give blood: Make an appointment to donate lifesaving blood or platelets. Presenting donors will receive a coupon for a FREE 16-ounce Wawa hot beverage throughout the month of March. Coupons are available while supplies last and cannot to redeemed for cash. The offer applies to the following regions: Delaware – Kent and New Castle; New Jersey – Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer and Salem; and Pennsylvania – Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Northampton and Philadelphia.
• Learn lifesaving skills: Register for a class to learn first aid, CPR and other skills.
• Make a financial donation: Throughout March, make a donation through The Wawa Foundation’s in-store coin collection campaign at your local Wawa.

Campaign Kick-Off Details: At 10 a.m., Guy Triano, Red Cross Eastern Pennsylvania CEO, American Red Cross staff and volunteers, and Wawa and The Wawa Foundation leadership teams will come together to kick off the partnership campaign with ceremonial photo and distribution of materials about fire safety and how to get involved with the Red Cross. Information on how to become a Red Cross volunteer and how to schedule an appointment to receive free smoke alarms will be available. The Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) will be onsite.