Crenco Customers Donate$3,470 to St. Jude's

A check for $100 came in while I was there pushing the total to $3,470.

Halloween fund drive helps kids with cancer

By Mandy Catoe

Friday, December 2, 2016

Customers of the Lancaster-based Crenco stores donated $3,470 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital during a six-week Halloween fundraising drive in the company’s five stores. 

Customers donated the money when paying for their purchases at the Crenco stores. In return for each gift, store employees wrote the customer’s name on a pumpkin-shaped card to hang in the store’s window. 

Crenco presented the check Wednesday morning to Maya Smith, regional St. Jude event marketing representative. 

“We are really grateful for all who made this possible,” Smith said. “All the money goes to St. Jude’s and it helps ensure that families never receive a bill.” 

Families of children being treated at the hospital never receive a bill for travel, treatment, housing or food, she said.

Hal Crenshaw, owner and president of Crenco Oil Co., credited his employees for the successful campaign. 

“It’s all due to their hard work,” Crenshaw said, pointing toward cashiers Chirsty Donahue and Crystal Russell. “It took participation of all our customers and employees dedicated to the cause.” 

Garrett Hammond, Crenco general manager, said the company’s “cashiers and customers really came through. Our windows were covered top to bottom with names.”

Hammond has managed the stores for about 18 months. He said he was a bit embarrassed by last year’s efforts when the company raised just $25. He rallied his employees this year, intent on making up for it.

Hammond drew inspiration from several kids in the community who are fighting cancer. 

“I didn’t realize that St. Jude doesn’t charge the patient or the parents. We are excited to help out,” he said. “I want to beat this total next year.”

Also on hand Wednesday was Kleber Dusenbury of Comer Distributing of Rock Hill. Crenco is part of a team of stores served by Comer, which recruits the stores to be part of a national fundraiser for the Memphis hospital sponsored by MillerCoors.  

The ramped up fundraising efforts paid off regionally, pushing Comer’s total to $13,000, more than double last year’s amount. 

MillerCoors has raised over $90 million for St. Jude since 1992.

Follow reporter Mandy Catoe on Twitter @MandyCatoeTLN or contact her at (803) 283-1152.