HOMER, Mich., March 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --PS Food Mart Charities, created by CITGO Marketer Folk Oil, today announced the launch of its third annual 'Fight Hunger. Give Hope.' campaign, a fundraiser dedicated to supporting local food banks in the communities it serves. From March 1 through March 18, 31 PS Food Mart stores in Michigan and Ohio will join together with a goal of raising more than $50,000 to help charities feed needy families across the region. Like Folk Oil and its PS Food Mart Stores, CITGO is also committed to giving back to local communities through its nearly 6,000 branded locations.
"It is so wonderful to see how the 'Fight Hunger. Give Hope.' campaign has evolved over the past three years," said Ed Heath, vice president of operations with PS Food Mart. "Thanks to the dedication of the PS Food Mart and Folk Oil families, as well as our local business partners, employees and customers, we can ensure thousands of people will be able to have food on their tables. We are all incredibly grateful for the ongoing involvement and support of our partners and customers throughout the years."
To donate, customers can go to any one of the participating PS Food Mart locations and buy a paper heart for $1 or $5. All of the proceeds will be given directly to area charities, including the Food Bank of South Central Michigan, Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank and other local food pantries in the communities that PS Food Mart serves. In keeping with its past success, PS Food Mart Charities hopes to provide nearly half a million meals to needy families over the course of the campaign.
In conjunction with the 'Fight Hunger. Give Hope.' campaign, PS Food Mart is introducing a smart phone application that provides updates on gas prices and current discounts and promotions. For every customer that downloads the application from Gas Buddy between March 1 and March 18, PS Food Mart will donate an additional $1 to the 'Fight Hunger. Give Hope.' Campaign with smart phone coupon redemption by the customer.
"We hope our new app will provide an opportunity for our team members and our community to use new media for a larger cause," said Jim Linton, vice president with PS Food Mart. "We are always overwhelmed by the generosity of our employees and neighbors to give to others in their communities. We look forward to raising even more money to ensure the children in our region don't go to bed hungry. Without the help of the community and our partners, this campaign wouldn't be possible."
A number of local businesses and national supporters will join PS Food Mart and Folk Oil in the fundraising efforts, including Hillsdale-based Watkins Oil and R.W. Mercer of Jackson, Mich. To find your local PS Food Mart, and for more information on the positive impact of PS Food Mart Charities in the communities they serve, visit www.psfoodmart.com.
CITGO, based in Houston, is a refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. The company is owned by PDV America, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. For more information, visit www.CITGO.com.
SOURCE CITGO Petroleum Corporation
