Marathon Petroleum employees are giving thanks by giving back for Thanksgiving. Employees across the country are donating time, money, clothing and food to help the less fortunate in our communities.

“Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate and enjoy time with your family. That’s hard to do when you are struggling to make ends meet,” said Tracey Tafoya, Community Relations Manager at Marathon Petroleum. “We have found ways to support the organizations helping those in need this holiday season, and we are truly grateful for the opportunity to serve others during this time of year.” 

“Volunteering helps put into perspective how MPC is a team and shows the power we have to help, provide and positively impact our communities.”
- Ester Perez, Refining Engineer 

At MPC, our community investment strategy is centered around strengthening communities and helping make people's lives better.

“Helping to prepare families in need for Thanksgiving and knowing that our help would provide for so many truly filled my heart with love and happiness,” said Lisa Tiell, Advanced Supply Chain Processor with Marathon Petroleum.

Here’s a look at some of the activities and donations from our locations:

• The Canton refinery made a $1,000 donation to support the Thanksgiving Baskets Downtown event that provided Thanksgiving dinner for 1,200 local families in the Canton community.
• Catlettsburg’s Refining Analytical Development group organized an employee turkey donation for the Ashland Community Kitchen for its Thanksgiving Meal. Employees donated nearly 30 turkeys and made cash donations. Employees also volunteered in the kitchen to help serve meals. The Community Action Team hosted a Coat, Glove and Hat Drive for three nonprofit organizations to help those in need this winter. Large bags of winter items were delivered to The Dressing Room in Ashland, Kentucky, Huntington City Mission in West Virginia and to The Ironton City Mission in Ohio.
• The Cincinnati Biodiesel Facility collected non-perishable goods from employees to donate toward 200 Thanksgiving meals provided for Winton Woods, a low-income community that is right across the street from the plant. MPC is donating turkeys for the meals this year, through a $1,500 local giving grant.
• The Detroit refinery donated $5,000 to the River Rouge turkey drive and volunteered at the event that is giving out 2,000 turkeys and canned goods to help those in need.
• Los Angeles refinery employees and contractors donated money to Feast in the Park, an event for more than 500 residents to receive a hot meal the day before Thanksgiving. And in partnership with the Wilmington Rotary Club, residents will receive toiletry kits. Volunteers will also hand out new and gently used sweaters and jackets to people at the event. The refinery has supported Feast in the Park for more than 22 years.
• FAMILIA, the Hispanic Employee Network Findlay chapter, volunteered at the West Ohio Food Bank, packing meal boxes to give to families. The group packed 50 boxes of meat and 100 boxes of desserts for a local food pantry.
• ARISE, the Women’s Employee Network San Antonio chapter, provided 20 Thanksgiving meal kits to Haven for Hope (a local homeless shelter) to benefit families transitioning to independent living this holiday. Employees in San Antonio volunteered at the annual Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner city-wide event serving upwards of 20,000 people. MPC provided a $5,000 grant to support the organization. Volunteers also worked at the San Antonio Food Bank to help organize donations.

We encourage employees to support the organizations and community efforts that are important to them by matching their donations to eligible organizations at 100 percent and funding volunteer incentive awards.