Last week, our guest blogger, Don Price talked about the many ways in which our Associates make magic for our customers and communities each and every day.  This was evident at a wonderful event last week, when the team from our store #344 in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey was recognized by the National office of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation for excellence in Sneaker Sales. 

Every Fall, we participate in JDRF’s annual sneaker sales campaign, encouraging our customers to buy a $1 paper sneaker at check-out to support diabetes research. You probably recognize the signs of our support through the bright sneakers hanging in all of stores.  Our Mount Laurel team took this commitment to the next level, selling more sneakers than any other store, contributing to a total Wawa contribution of $370,000! Even in challenging economic times, the dedication of our associates and generosity of our customers is helping bring JDRF that much closer to a cure!

JDRF National Walk Director, Mike Malekoff, www.jdrf.org, attended the award ceremony, along with local chapter director, Steve Blocher, and dozens of children and their parents from the community who are affected buy juvenile diabetes. Mike and Steve recognized the store team for their passion and commitment to selling one sneaker at a time — which can be the hardest, but most important aspect of fundraising. 

At Wawa our associates are keenly aware that almost 24 million Americans have diabetes, of which 3 million are affected by juvenile diabetes. I remember when we began our efforts on behalf of JDRF over 20 years ago, and I can’t forget how passionate our associates were about finding a cure from the beginning. 

Today, more than several million dollars later, I am so proud of the Wawa team and the many associates who give their all to help find a cure for juvenile diabetes — associates like Wawa’s Store Operations Services Senior Director, Sal Mattera, for example.  Sal is our lead JDRF goose as the Wawa Chairperson for our JDRF activities.  Sal continues to honk from behind the effort to encourage the Wawa flock to keep up their speed each year for JDRF. 

Sal won't be satisfied until a cure is found. Neither will Vicki, an associate from store 344 who asks every customer who walks through the door to buy a paper sneaker.  JDRF parent, Donna Bell, came to last week’s event with her daughter Evey to thank Vicki, and all the store associates for raising awareness about the importance of finding a cure.

Donna told a story of shopping at Wawa while her daughter was at dance class.  One day she walked in as Vickie was suggesting a sneaker sale to a customer, and she couldn’t help but walk over, thank her and share the story of her young daughter being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.  Vickie hugged her, and the two formed an immediate bond.  Vickie is now the top sneaker seller in her store, and she’ll tell you that it's all for the children.  It's a little thing she can do that really adds up and makes a big difference to the future of so many children.

Sometimes convenience shines through in other ways than speed of service or product offer. Our sneakers sales are an example of how we make it convenient for millions and millions of customers to easily make a contribution to their local chapter of JDRF.  What makes it all possible across our family of stores, are associates like Vickie and her team at #344, who go the extra mile to answer questions, talk to customers, and handle their donations. Of course, it’s also made possible by our customers who so generously give from the heart.  They all prove that every person who walks into our store is part of our Wawa family.  And we hope to continue to walk and walk until every person has a sneaker and creates that final step to finding a cure.

‘Til next time…