CHARLESTON - The West Virginia Oil Marketers & Grocers Association (OMEGA) raised $91,143 to help the children and families cared for by the Children??s Home Society of West Virginia during a four-week campaign spanning April 15 to May 13.
"Our members ?" the hundreds of local convenience and grocery stores West Virginians shop in every day ?" are very proud of this effort to make a difference in children??s lives and we are very appreciative of the public who truly supported this campaign," said Jan Vineyard, OMEGA president, in a press release.
OMEGA-member convenience and grocery stores partnered with the Children??s Home Society of West Virginia to raise funds that will be used to support child assistance programs, such as emergency child shelters, foster care, adoption, mentoring, early intervention and numerous other family support programs throughout the state. Brightly colored, Mother??s Day-themed, paper flowers were sold for $1 at nearly 500 OMEGA-member convenience and grocery stores across West Virginia.
"This campaign not only raised awareness about West Virginia children who need help or a family to call their own, but through the graciousness of the public, is providing our organization with a greater ability to make a positive impact on these children??s lives," said Mary White, director of development and philanthropy for the Children??s Home Society.
The OMEGA members participating in the Mothers Day Campaign include: BFS Convenience Stores, DeFazio Oil Company, Go-Mart Inc., Little General Stores, Mini Giants, One Stop, Par Mar Oil Company, Petersburg Oil Company, R.M. Roach and Sons, R.T. Rogers Oil Company, Stop In Food Stores, Prima Marketing/7-Eleven, Tri-State Petroleum Corp., Bigley Foodland Fresh and TWJ Inc.
"This effort not only gives back to the communities where our members live and work, but it demonstrates the philanthropic nature of our industry. This is a win for all involved: the children, our members and the public," Vineyard said.
OMEGA raised just over $60,000 for this campaign last year, and nearly $1.4 million since 2003 for charities that improve the health, safety and well being of West Virginia children.