Recognition, respect, and gratitude for 911 Professionals, All First Responders, and All Health Care Professionals
July 24, 2020
This July 24 (24/7 Day), the NACS Foundation is uniting convenience stores across America in recognizing first responders, medical personnel and American Red Cross volunteers who work around the clock, 24/7, serving our communities to ensure people don’t face emergencies alone. The annual event helps raise awareness and donations for the urgent humanitarian needs of the American Red Cross and spotlights our industry’s important role in supporting local heroes and the communities we serve.
America’s 911 professionals are among the first responders and local heroes being celebrated this week as the convenience and fuel retailing industry unites in the second annual 24/7 Day event on Friday, July 24.
NENA: The 9-1-1 Association is partnering with the NACS Foundation and American Red Cross in the annual national event, which recognizes first responders, medical personnel, and American Red Cross volunteers who work around the clock, 24/7, serving our communities to ensure people don’t face emergencies alone. 27/7 Day is also recognized by iCERT and the NG911 Institute.
On Friday, at more than 15,000 convenience store locations operated by Shell, ExtraMile, Kwik Chek, Loop Neighborhood Market, Rapid Refill, Garrett’s Family Market, Yesway, and Allsup’s, uniformed or badged 911 professionals are among those who will be able to get a free coffee, fountain drink, or snack (local details vary) as a way of saying “thank you” for their invaluable, courageous public service.
NENA members are encouraged to visit one of these stores on Friday, take photos of themselves enjoying their free benefit, and post them to Facebook or Twitter with the hashtags #247Day, #ThankYou911, and #WeHeartHeroes.
“Throughout the COVID crisis, as always, our 911 professionals have continued to go to work, 24/7, helping to protect and serve our communities,” said NENA CEO Brian Fontes. “We thank our friends across the convenience retail industry for recognizing that 911 dispatchers are local heroes who have earned America’s appreciation.”
“The NACS Foundation is proud to unite the convenience and fuel retailing industry to support the American Red Cross, its volunteers, and the first responders—like the people of 911—who support our communities 24/7,” said Stephanie Sikorski, executive director of the NACS Foundation. “Convenience stores are often the only locations that remain open in a crisis, ensuring that fuel, food, and other necessities are available for emergency workers and customers seeking a return to normalcy. And with their extended hours of operation, our stores are often the only place open to serve first responders and medical personnel working overnight. That’s why the NACS Foundation honors hometown heroes who work around the clock in local communities across the country.”