CountryMark Fueling Freedom Program Helping Hoosier Military Families
At 39 CountryMark fuel locations around the state on Friday, 50 cents for every gallon of fuel sold between noon and 5 pm was donated to the Family Readiness Program of the Indiana National Guard. At the Lebanon location in Boone County, Staff Sargeant Riley Bennett, with Charlie battery 2nd 150th Field Artillery Battalion, knows all too well how the Family Readiness Program works, “This unit was deployed to Iraq in 2006, and this community really came together to help us out. The FRG group helped with food and other things our families needed.”
The funds raised at each Fueling Freedom location will stay in that community and help military families all year long. “For example at Christmas, that is at time when families really struggle. They sponsored a Christmas party here at the armory and the Family Readiness group went and bought a lot of toys, so when Santa came he had toys for all the kids. That was a good time for kids who were going through a rough time, “ Bennett said.
In 2017 the Fueling Freedom program raised $50,000 statewide. Good weather Friday afternoon produced long lines at fuel stations around the state.
Jason Hein, with Co-Alliance, says this program also helps co-ops to tell the unique CountryMark Fuel message to motorists, “We tell them how the oil is pumped from Southern Indiana and refined at our refinery in Mount Vernon, providing lots of Hoosier jobs. This is a story that a lot of folks don’t know.” He added this program is a good way for local stations and co-ops to give back to their communities.
CountryMark, Indiana’s farmer-owned, energy cooperative, has been sponsoring the Fueling Freedom program since 2008,