Kum & Go and Habitat for Humanity celebrate nine years of partnership
Des Moines, Iowa (July 7, 2022) — Habitat for Humanity International and family-owned convenience store chain Kum & Go are celebrating their ninth year of partnership. Since 2014, Kum & Go and Habitat have worked together to build strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter in communities across the U.S.
“Kum & Go is proud to support the affordable housing and financial education services provided by Habitat for Humanity. Through associate and customer engagement, we not only raise an incredible amount of money to support these programs, but also raise awareness about the need that continues to grow across our country,” says Emily Bahnsen, community investment manager at Kum & Go.
Kum & Go’s annual Donate Change to Make a Change in-store campaign, which takes place each year in February in their more than 400 store locations, engages store associates and encourages customers to donate to Habitat at checkout. Kum & Go’s Buy Water & Build Homes initiative also takes place in February, where 10 cents from every 20 oz. K&G bottle of water purchased is donated to Habitat. This year, the in-store campaign and water bottle initiative raised more than $360,000. With their corporate contribution, over $611,000 in total was donated to Habitat this year. Funds from donations are distributed to 15 Habitat affiliates in locations where Kum & Go operates and support efforts to build decent, affordable housing in local communities.
Kum & Go also recently sponsored two new home builds, one in Grand Rapids, Mich., and another in Salt Lake City, Utah, where they will be opening stores later this year. These builds are the eighth and ninth homes Kum & Go has sponsored over the course of their partnership with Habitat.
“We are thrilled to celebrate another year of partnership with Kum & Go,” said Julie Laird Davis, vice president of corporate and cause marketing partnerships at Habitat for Humanity International. “We are so grateful to have their associates and customers support our work to create lasting change in the communities they work and live through safe, decent and affordable housing.”
Over the past nine years, Kum & Go has raised more than $5 million for Habitat for Humanity and has sponsored home builds with local Habitat affiliates in North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Colorado, Utah and Michigan.
About Habitat for Humanity
Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a community farm in southern Georgia. The Christian housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org.
About Kum & Go
Established in Hampton, Iowa in 1959, Kum & Go is a fourth-generation, family-owned convenience store chain providing a fresh perspective by meeting customers where they are and offering them the choices they deserve. For over 60 years, the company has been dedicated to sharing 10% of all profits back to the communities it serves. Kum & Go plans to hire over 5,000 associates across all locations this year, adding 176 food positions as they expand their brand and food program in the Des Moines, Iowa, market. Full-time positions offer benefits and set schedules with consistent hours. For more information and to join the team, visit careers.kumandgo.com.