SAVANNAH, Ga.—Enmarket convenience stores and trucking firm Veteran Carriers, both based in Savannah, are demonstrating appreciation for the trucking industry by providing free lunches to drivers through the end of the year, the retailer announced.

On the first Friday of each month, truckers can pick up a free boxed lunch between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. from Enmarket’s The Eatery on Pine Barren Road and Highway 80 in Savannah, an outlet that serves a high volume of professional drivers. Volunteers will support the program and will hand out meals. The first group of volunteers represents the Veterans Council of Chatham County.

“Throughout 2020 and 2021, truckers have kept us fed and supplied, even during the darkest and most frightening days of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Cliff White, president of Veteran Carriers. “We wanted to do something, however small, to acknowledge the sacrifice and determination these truckers have demonstrated. We wanted it to be for all truckers, not just our own drivers.”

“Enmarket never closed its doors during the lockdown,” said Brett Giesick, president of Enmarket. “As an essential business, our employees were there, selling gas and food. But we couldn’t have done it without truckers keeping us supplied, so we are pleased to join this expression of appreciation.”

The idea of paying it forward to truckers comes amid a trucker shortage impacting supply chains through out the United States, with the biggest obstacle to attracting new drivers possibly being pay.

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