For the second consecutive year, Holiday Oil provided a large donation of over $1,000 to Valley Jr. High for the school’s Winterfest Gift Store in December. It functions much like a Sub for Santa program for the school using the items Holiday Oil’s donation was able to provide.

In appreciation, a large banner with the words “Thank You” and the signatures from hundreds of students was presented to Holiday Oil corporate officers at the gas station and store, located at 3219 W. 4100 South in West Valley City, on March 1. The store is located just a short distance from the school.

“A lot of students come here every day for lunch, so the store has become a pivotal part of the community,” said Shelby Moyes Batis, marketing coordinator for Holiday Oil, which owns and operates 74 station stores in Utah. “We make sure the kids can come in and have a safe place to grab lunch, and give them a sense of community in a spot to gather.”

“Every year at Christmas time, we do a Sub for Santa fundraiser at our point of sale, so customers are able to donate money as they make purchases,” said Amber Wagstaff Ferre, the chairperson of Holiday Oil’s Doing Good Committee who is also an alumnus of the school. “It helps us provide Christmas to local families, and then we look for other opportunities where we can support and provide gifts for kids at Christmas.” 

“Holiday Oil was great,” principal Brian Murray said. “They donated items that are very needed—toys, things for moms and dads, siblings and lots of books. The students earned points through their school work and accomplishments to go purchase items in the Winterfest Gift Store. Then they were able to wrap and give those gifts to siblings, parents and grandparents.”

He said such community-based programs are important to students at Valley Jr. High.

“It’s great because we have a lot of students and parents in need,” he said. “It helps fill the need gap in our community. I saw that a lot of happy students that normally would not be able to purchase anything for family members were able to get something meaningful for their family this year.”

“Holiday Oil’s generous donation provided enough items for students to shop without limitations and even come back at the end of the school day to finish up their shopping for the holidays,” said Rebecca Johnson, the PTSA president at Valley Jr. High. λ