LYNN — The New England Convenience Store & Energy Marketers Association (NECSEMA) delivered $3,000 in gas cards to the Lynn Community Connections Coalition Friday to provide support to the city’s homeless.
“Each card for every company is worth $25,” said NECSEMA Executive Director Jonathan Shaer. “There are 20 cards per company.”
Among NECSEMA affiliate members who answered the call for help in Lynn are Shell Oil Company, ExxonMobil, Gulf Oil, Sunoco Inc., CITGO Petroleum, and Valero Marketing, according to NECSEMA.
Shaer said he read an article about homelessness in the Providence Journal several weeks ago, and in the story, homeless people asked for gas cards.
“And I quickly realized that I was in a position to source those gas cards,” he said.
After he first distributed the cards in Rhode Island through the organization “House of Hope,” Shaer realized that he wanted to do something similar in Massachusetts.
Shaer said he decided to work with the Lynn Community Connections Coalition, which consists of local partnerships aimed at bringing community services, community leaders, and residents together to talk about how to build stronger and healthier families and neighborhoods.
The number of homeless, living in cars, sleeping in tents or on park benches, rose dramatically in New England since the start of the pandemic. Shaer said his organization was in a unique position to help.
“I’m so proud of the quick response of our members to answer this call for good,” said Shaer.
Luigi Mandarino, regional sales director for Sunoco, said it was rewarding to be able to help the Lynn community.
“Sunoco is honored to be able to support the impactful work the Lynn Community Connections Coalition does,” he said. “Our hope is that by providing gas cards, we are able to deliver a resource to those who need it.”
Lynn Community Connections Coalition Director Brandy Rodrigues said the gift cards will be distributed based on referrals from their partners throughout the city, as well as families and individuals the organization is already working with.
“These gift cards will come in to pay for families and individuals that are struggling, possibly living out in their cars, having troubles making ends meet, having to choose between if they are going to buy food, pay a bill, or put gas in their cars,” she said.
NECSEMA collaborated on this project with state Sen. Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn) and state Reps. Daniel Cahill (D-Lynn) and Peter Capano (D-Lynn). Both Cahill and Capano said that these are difficult times.
“This donation will help some of the most vulnerable residents in our community,” said Cahill. “There is a huge need in the city of Lynn for assistance.”
Cahill said people are living in their cars, because the rents are incredibly high, and spiking gas prices have further aggravated the matter.
Shaer thanked the city for its assistance with delivering this aid to those in need.
“I thank the Lynn legislative delegation for their partnership, so we may get these resources into the hands of people who need them most during these uniquely difficult times,” said Shaer.
NECSEMA promotes the interests of the convenience store and transportation-fuel industries across New England. It provides its members with information and communication support, training and education programs, as well as with legislative and regulatory advocacy on the local, state, and federal levels.
