SAVANNAH, Ga. (Feb. 28, 2024) – Parker’s Kitchen – a nationally acclaimed convenience store company and food service leader that has donated more than $30 million to support important community causes through the Parker’s Community Fund – announced a new partnership with Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) to support injured local veterans in Georgia and South Carolina earlier today. Parker’s Kitchen and WWP representatives made an official announcement at the company’s headquarters in Savannah, Ga. at a special reception attended by local dignitaries and area veterans.
This exciting new partnership will support the WWP Warriors to Work® program, which provides warriors and their family members with the resources and assistance they need to be successful in the civilian workforce. Program participants learn the skills necessary to find meaningful employment, live financially resilient lives and be empowered to reach their highest career goals. Services include career counseling, veteran job placement programs, resume writing assistance, interview preparation, military skills translation guidance and more
Parker’s Kitchen is joining forces with WWP to help provide life-changing services and programs to local post-9/11 injured veterans and their families at no cost to them, including vital career development and support as veterans transition to civilian life. As part of an ongoing commitment to give back to the community and to be a force for positive change, proceeds from the Parker’s Kitchen round-up campaign from March 1 through July 4 will be donated to support WWP.
The company will match 25% of each customer donation, amplifying the impact and supporting even more local veterans. Round-up donations can be made at all Parker’s and Parker’s Kitchen retail stores across coastal Georgia and South Carolina.
“Parker’s Kitchen is incredibly proud to partner with Wounded Warrior Project to honor and empower America’s veterans and to help fuel these life-changing programs,” said Parker’s Kitchen founder and CEO Greg Parker. “This round-up campaign is just the beginning of our partnership with Wounded Warrior Project, as we want to be a force for positive change in the community and support heroes throughout our corporate footprint. We’re deeply honored to stand alongside Wounded Warrior Project to ensure that injured veterans in Georgia and South Carolina receive the programs and services they deserve to achieve their highest ambition.”
Parker’s Kitchen customers can choose to round up their purchases to the nearest dollar to benefit WWP and help warriors get the services they need. Parker’s Kitchen round-up donations support a rotating series of nonprofit organizations through the Parker’s Community Fund, which is dedicated to four major pillars: fighting hunger, expanding access to healthcare, supporting education and celebrating heroes.
Wounded Warrior Project served almost 13,000 warriors and family members in Georgia in FY23 (Oct 2022-Sept 2023) and advocated for over 680,000 Georgia veterans. In addition, WWP served almost 4,900 warriors and family members in South Carolina in FY23 (Oct 2022-Sept 2023) and advocated for 390,000 South Carolina veterans.
“We’re grateful for the incredible generosity of Parker’s Kitchen,” said Brea Kratzert Todd, Wounded Warrior Project’s vice president of business development. “Their devotion to supporting veterans, families and caregivers is inspiring. Together with partners like Parker’s Kitchen, Wounded Warrior Project is changing and saving lives.”
U.S. Army veteran and WWP spokesperson Jacob Norotsky shared his personal story at the partnership announcement at the Parker’s Kitchen headquarters, growing up in a small town in Pennsylvania as the son of a Vietnam veteran. After serving his country as a Blackhawk helicopter crew chief on multiple deployments to Iraq, Norotsky was diagnosed with chronic physical and emotional conditions, including muscle damage and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He experienced suicidal ideation and turned his life around through his involvement with WWP programs.
“The realization that I’m not alone and I’m not broken, it was absolutely amazing,” Norotsky explained. “My dad led me to a life of service from a young age, and that’s exactly what I’m doing now. I’m back serving my brothers and sisters, helping them learn about Wounded Warrior Project so they know help is out there. They don’t have to struggle for so long, like I did.”
Parker’s has been named the Convenience Store Chain of the Year by Convenience Store Decisions, which is the industry’s highest honor. The company has also been honored by Food and Wine as one of America’s Best Convenience Stores and by Convenience Store News as the Convenience Foodservice Leader of the Year.
Since its founding in 1976, Parker’s has grown to become a nationally acclaimed company that was recently voted the #4 Best Gas Station for Food and the #6 Best Gas Station Brand in America by USA TODAY readers. The Parker’s Rewards loyalty program, which includes more than 300,000 members, has saved customers more than $15 million to date. Parker’s employs more than 1,360 professionals throughout Georgia and South Carolina and completes more than 134,000 transactions daily.
ABOUT PARKER’S KITCHEN:
Honored as the Convenience Store Decisions Chain of the Year, Parker’s Kitchen offers customers high-quality products, freshly prepared food and superior customer service at retail stores throughout South Carolina and Georgia. Under the leadership of founder and CEO Greg Parker, Parker’s Kitchen has a commitment to exceeding customer expectations and has repeatedly been recognized as one of the nation’s leading convenience store and foodservice companies. Parker’s Kitchen was recently voted the #4 Best Gas Station for Food and the #6 Best Gas Station Brand in America by USA TODAY readers and was honored as one of the Best Places to Work in South Carolina by SC Biz. Founded in 1976, the company serves world-famous hand-breaded Southern Fried Chicken Tenders as well as made-from-scratch mac ‘n’ cheese, a breakfast bar and daily specials. Parker’s Kitchen employs more than 1,360 professionals throughout South Carolina and Georgia, serves more than 300,000 Parker’s Rewards members and completes more than 134,000 transactions daily. Learn more at parkerskitchen.com.
ABOUT WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT:
Since 2003, Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) has been meeting the growing needs of warriors, their families and caregivers – helping them achieve their highest ambition. Learn more: woundedwarriorproject.org
