Love’s Travel Stops donated $1 million to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oklahoma County and an additional $500,000 to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, the company announced today, Dec. 21. The $1.5 million donation was made to the United Way of Central Oklahoma’s COVID-19 Relief Fund and earmarked for the two nonprofits.
The Boys & Girls Clubs and Catholic Charities, both United Way partner agencies, have seen an increase in demand for services due to the pandemic. The Boys & Girls Clubs have safely provided additional programs, meals and support for children, and Catholic Charities has extended its homelessness response initiatives during the pandemic.
“The support that the Boys & Girls Clubs, Catholic Charities and United Way have provided during the pandemic has been the lifeblood for so many in our community,” said Jenny Love Meyer, executive vice president and chief culture officer for Love’s. “We are proud to assist these long-standing partners of Love’s and help enable them to continue their outstanding work.”
“We are so grateful for the partnerships we have enjoyed for the past 25 years with Love’s Travel Stops, the Love family and the United Way of Central Oklahoma,” said Teena Belcik, Boys & Girls Clubs’ president & CEO. “This generous gift will provide academic and other support for students and their families throughout the pandemic, while observing strict COVID-19 safety protocols at all of our Boys & Girls Club Hope Centers. Without this vital support, many youth in our community would be at home alone without supervision, internet access, online learning support or food, and would be falling further behind in school.”
“Catholic Charities is thrilled at the generosity of Love’s Travel Stops and its partnership with the United Way of Central Oklahoma to provide such an impactful gift to help those most at risk due to the coronavirus – the homeless, those who lost jobs, those needing food assistance,” said Executive Director Patrick J. Raglow. “Catholic Charities will apply these funds to help individuals currently homeless or at risk of homelessness because of the pandemic.”
