New Sheetz in Cranberry Township gives back $7,500 to community
CRANBERRY TWP — A new Sheetz along Route 228 celebrated its grand opening Thursday, Aug. 24, offering $7,500 in donations and prizes to the community.
Nick Ruffner, public relations manager for Sheetz, served as emcee and reminded residents that the company was, at heart, family-owned and family-operated — named for its founder Bob Sheetz.
“We go to new markets and a lot of people don’t know that, we have to tell them ‘What is a Sheetz,’” Ruffner said. “And our president and CEO Travis Sheetz, who’s the nephew of the founder, Bob, always says, ‘If Sheetz isn’t the name of a family, what did you think it was?’”
After recognizing township officials and services that came out for the opening, Ruffner said the company was “proud of (its) community partnerships.”
“The first one that we want to talk about: We’ve been partners with this organization (Special Olympics Pennsylvania) since 1991,” he said. “It is really kind of a partnership that so many in our company are passionate about.”
Ruffner then welcomed Andrew Fee, Special Olympics Pennsylvania regional executive director and Allegheny County program director, to the stage.
“On behalf of our staff and all of our athletes across Pennsylvania and across the country now, you guys do amazing things for us,” Fee said. “And I’m going to let Kaitlyn (Anderson), one of our athletes, tell her story.”
Anderson, a graduate of Baldwin High School in Pittsburgh, said she has been involved in the organization for many years, competing in a variety of sports.
“Most recently, I played unified bocce with my high school bocce team,” she said. “In unified sports, individuals with and without disabilities compete together — unified bocce is one of my favorite sports.”
Anderson said she also participated in a partnership between the organization and Aerie Real Foundation for a photo shoot.
“I’m so happy to be a part of Special Olympics, it has changed my life,” she said. “Thank you Sheetz for being a sponsor of Special Olympics and being so kind to everyone — your support allows me to keep doing these great things.”
Anderson then accepted a $2,500 donation on behalf of the region’s Special Olympics Pennsylvania.
“We donate $2,500 at every new store opening,” Ruffner said.
He further encouraged the public to donate to the organization via collection bins at all Sheetz locations 10 months out of the year.
“But July and December, it’s something different,” Ruffner said. “It’s something called Sheetz for the Kids.”
Sheetz for the Kids began as a means of supporting children in need during the holiday season, according to Ruffner, but has expanded into working with local food banks year-round.
“And, so, we came up with Made to Share,” he said. “And through Made to Share, we donate leftover food every week to a local food bank and then it is used immediately to fight hunger in our areas.”
Ruffner then invited Holly Ramey, food recovery coordinator the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, to the stage.
“With Sheetz alone, just in the last fiscal year across our locations, we were able to receive 84,944 meals,” Ramey said. “And that’s just from our partnership with Sheetz alone.”
On behalf of the food bank, Ramey accepted an additional $2,500 from the location, in addition to nonperishable food items donated by the community.
Finally, Mark Pompa, store manager for the new location, drew a ticket for the $2,500 Sheetz gift card raffle.
Resident Laura Hofman was declared the winner, to resounding cheers.
“I’m just shocked,” she said. “I’m just shocked and surprised — glad I stayed around.”
Hofman said she very nearly left the opening early.
“I guess I’ll be treating the kids in the neighborhood,” she said with a laugh.
As the ribbon was cut and festivities wound down, resident Jessica Hribal and her sister, Justine Howe, agreed the new, central location in the township would be an asset to the community.
“It’s great because I pass through here often, and I just love that there’s another Sheetz,” Hribal said.
