From winter wear to healthy meals and fun gifts, Marathon Petroleum Corp. (MPC) employees are making a meaningful impact in our communities by volunteering and donating to those in need this holiday season.

Here’s a look at some of the activities from our locations across the country.

Anacortes, Washington

The Anacortes refinery, in collaboration with the Contractor Safety Council, sponsored its annual Fueling the Holiday Spirit holiday drive to benefit the Skagit Valley Herald Christmas Fund. The team collected $5,000 in toys and coordinated a $10,000 donation to the organization to help it continue providing underprivileged children with a brighter holiday. In all, the organization served more than 2,500 families this holiday season.

Canonsburg, Pennsylvania

MPLX Southpointe Office employees chose to support two organizations this holiday season. They purchased gifts for 50 local children through the Salvation Army Angel Tree Program and 40 orphaned animals at the Washington Area Humane Society.

Catlettsburg, Kentucky

More than 200 volunteers helped pack 51,000 meals for families in need during the Ashland Christmas Harvest Pack event. The event was sponsored by the Ashland Breakfast Kiwanis, and area service organizations and businesses, including Marathon. Employees from the Marathon Catlettsburg refinery and Marine organization helped pack fortified oatmeal bags.

“This was a fun, successful event to help those in our area that need nutritional meals, especially during the cold weather and holiday season,” said Sheila Fraley, MPC Community Relations Representative.

Detroit, Michigan

The Detroit refinery hosted its annual Adopt-A-Family Christmas Initiative, adopting 118 kids in southwest Detroit. Families were nominated by community members and the local school, Mark Twain Elementary. Departments worked together to provide items from the kids' wish lists. Additionally, the Detroit refinery and contractors held a Christmas Toy Drive for Mott Children's Hospital, so children spending Christmas in the hospital can still unwrap gifts on Christmas Day.

Dickinson, North Dakota

Employees at our Dickinson Renewable Diesel Facility adopted over 40 children through the local United Way Angel Tree Program.

Elk City, Oklahoma

MPLX participated as one of seven toy drive collection sites for the Elk City Mayor’s Toy Drive, with local employees donating to the long-standing cause. Dressed as Santa, Elk City Mayor and MPLX employee Micah Kilhoffer presented 406 children with the toys at the distribution event this year.

“Our community’s generosity during the toy drive truly captured the spirit of Christmas,” said Kilhoffer. “Thanks to everyone who gave, we’ve made the season brighter for local families.”

El Paso, Texas 

Employees from the El Paso refinery helped the Salvation Army expand its holiday outreach to the community in more ways than one. Through the nonprofit’s Angel Tree program, they shopped and purchased gifts for 71 children, including 12 bikes, a bed and a violin. Additionally, employees and contractors volunteered to worked in shifts next to the Salvation Army’s iconic red kettles, ringing bells to collect donations for individuals and families in need.

Evans City, Pennsylvania

This year marks the third year that the MPLX Bluestone Plant has participated in a toy drive for Neighbors 4 Neighbors, a charity committed to making the holidays brighter for students in the area. Employees fulfilled Christmas wish lists for 50 local children through our Bluestone Golf Outing and an additional 18 wish lists. This is not only a record for the employees at Bluestone but also a record for the entire Neighbors 4 Neighbors organization.

Findlay, Ohio

At our headquarters in Findlay, Ohio, MPC employees and retirees volunteered at the Clothe-A-Child, Ohio, Inc. (CAC) event. Volunteers shopped for children and young adults. Over the course of multiple events, they served 481 children. Through donations, CAC provides underserved children with clothing in the Hancock County communities.

Additionally, members of the Treasury team volunteered at the City Mission in Findlay, supporting the organization by assisting with a variety of tasks. Their efforts included bagging holiday ornaments, folding and organizing clothing, sorting DVDs, moving furniture and completing several other projects as needed.

Garyville, Louisiana

More than 150 senior citizens from St. John Parish attended the St. John Council on Aging Christmas Social, which was sponsored by the Garyville refinery. Employees volunteered to serve lunch, handed out gifts and mingled with all attendees.

Kenai, Alaska

Kenai refinery employees joined the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Program, generously providing clothes and toys for local children in need. They filled its delivery van with gifts.

La Palma, California

Our Direct Dealer team came together for the third year to support Operation Santa Claus.

“It’s a privilege to give to our community and see the joy we can bring by volunteering with Operation Santa Claus, which has supported children in our community for more than 60 years,” said Manish Patel, Direct Marketing Support Manager at MPC.

Operation Santa Claus helps foster families make the holidays more special for children in the foster system by providing new gifts and toys.

Lima, Ohio

This year, the Marathon Pipe Line Great Lakes Area, Lima Division team, joined forces with the Lima and Oregon Terminals, Findlay CMD Analysts Group, and Lima Transportation Fleet to participate in their annual Toys for Tots campaign.

Employees from each team rallied together, organizing toys, spreading the word, and encouraging participation across all teams, leading to the campaign’s overarching success.

The sight of boxes overflowing with gifts was a testament to the generosity and unity of the Marathon Pipe Line/Terminals family. These toys will soon find their way into the hands of children throughout the community, ensuring that the holiday season is filled with hope and happiness for many families.

Los Angeles, California

The Los Angeles refinery participated in Adopt-A-Family, a program that has become an annual tradition where MPC employees and contractors come together to give to the community. This year, 26 families and 76 children received holiday gifts, all of which were generously purchased by employees and contractors themselves.

In addition, toy drives and holiday giving supported local organizations including the Wilmington Community Clinic, the Women’s Shelter of Long Beach, Century Villages at Cabrillo and Garfield Elementary School’s after-school program, where the toy giveaway benefited nearly 100 elementary students. Altogether, these efforts resulted in more than $20,000 in support for community holiday events.

McDonald, Pennsylvania

Employees at the MPLX Liberty North Compression station donated food and supplies to local animal rescues and animal shelters as part of their Santa Paws and Kitty Claus holiday giving.

Robinson, Illinois

Marathon employees put together 111 bags of gifts for local children of all ages, from preschool to high school.

“Kindness like this truly makes a difference in our community and brings joy to these families during the holiday season” said Sheila Fraley, MPC Community Relations Representative.

The NOW program sends supplemental food home on weekends for students in need in the Robinson School District.

San Antonio, Texas

On Friday, Dec. 12, in advance of Wreaths Across America Day, more than 20 members of MPC’s HONOR Employee Network Group in San Antonio volunteered to lay remembrance wreaths at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. They placed over 450 wreaths, honoring our country’s fallen heroes and fallen family members, in the act of saying the name of each and every veteran aloud.  

“Being a part of the Wreaths Across America experience was special,” said Jennifer Taulbee, Lead Accountant. “It's something I've always wanted to do, and I appreciated the opportunity to show my gratitude to those who've served our country.”

Employees from the San Antonio office also supported The Salvation Army Angel Tree. Employees adopted 100 children and 25 senior citizens, donating toys, clothing and other gifts, including 17 bikes. 

South Shore, Kentucky

Employees at the MPLX Siloam Plant delivered food and cash donations to the South Shore City Mission for the holidays. Additionally, they volunteered at the Amvets Children’s Christmas Party at AMVETS Post 95 in Greenup, helping distribute presents and serve food, and donated treat bags at the Greenup VFW Kids Christmas Party. Employees also participated in the Cocoa & Books with Santa event, reading Christmas books to classrooms and helping with an ornament craft in each class at McKell Elementary school.

Texas City, Texas

Through the Galveston Bay refinery’s annual Adopt an Angel drive with The Salvation Army, 53 angels were adopted, each receiving thoughtful gifts because of the generosity of our employees, departments, and networks.

Vancouver, Washington

The Vancouver terminal recently took part in a heartwarming initiative – a Christmas Gift Tags & Food Drive in collaboration with the Share House men’s shelter. Terminal employees, drivers and contractors donated food and presents for people in need at the Share House.

West Union, West Virginia 

Employees at our Sherwood natural gas processing facility donated jackets, toys and shoes for seven children in need. Other employees at the plant sponsored an additional 36 children between the Salvation Army Angel Tree and the Doddridge County FRN Good Shepherd Tree. They also supported the Harrison County FRN Christmas for Heroes, a program that purchases Christmas gifts for homeless and low-income veterans in the area.

 

Wheeling, West Virginia

The MPLX Majorsville and Mobley plants in WV supported 23 children through the Salvation Army Angel Tree program. The angels were sponsored by employees and gifts purchased from the employees’ personal funds.