Parker’s Founder and CEO Greg Parker announced this week that his Parker’s and Parker’s Kitchen convenience stores have launched a new partnership with Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) to support injured local veterans in Georgia and South Carolina.

The partnership starts with a round-up campaign beginning March 1 and running through July 4.

During that time, the company will match 25-percent of each customer donation made at checkout stations. Round-up donations can be made at all Parker’s and Parker’s Kitchen retail stores across Georgia and South Carolina.

Representatives from Parker’s and WWP made the announcement Wednesday during a special reception.at the company’s headquarters in Savannah.

Parker said more than 134,000 transactions are made daily at Parker’s stores. He began the company 49 years ago and now has 80 stores open, 13 more under construction, and plans for a dozen locations around Jacksonville in the next year. He spoke with gathered media following the reception on Wednesday.

“When (customers) come to Parker’s, they can round-up to the next dollar and whatever you give, we’re going to match 25-percent of it,” he said. “We think of giving back as part of our DNA and something that we should be doing. And we’re going to be advocating for our wounded warriors because without the warriors, we don’t have the freedoms that we have now in America.”

Customers can choose to round-up their purchases to the nearest dollar to benefit WWP and help warriors get the services they need. At checkout stations will be prompted to round with the message: Would you like to round up to support local Wounded Warriors?

The WWP “Warriors to Work” program provides warriors and their family members with resources and assistance needed to be successful in the civilian workforce. Program participants learn 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.

“This round-up campaign is just the beginning of our partnership with Wounded Warrior Project. We want to give more than our money,” said Parker. “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.”

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.

“My goal is to raise ($250,000) in this four-month period,” Parker said. “I’m thrilled to be in the harvest phase of my life. I love the crops these 49 years have given me and to be able to do things to give back, in meaningful ways, to communities … It really lifts me up.”

U.S. Army veteran and WWP spokesperson Jacob Norotsky also spoke at the partnership announcement.

After serving 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 but turned his life around through working with WWP programs.

“The realization that I’m not alone and I’m not broken, it was absolutely amazing,” Norotsky said. “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.”

This article appears in Connect Savannah I February 2024.