San Gabriel, CA
–
The chill is on again this summer! For 24 years,
7-Eleven, Inc.
has enabled local cops to connect with kids
through its
Operation Chill
community service program. 7-Eleven works with local police and sheriff’s departments donating free Slurpee drink coupons that they can distribute to children and youth caught being safe or doing good. San Gabriel Police officers will be dispensing well-deserved Slurpee justice to good kids in San Gabriel.
During 2019, 7-Eleven will issue approximately 1.475 million Slurpee coupons to more than 1,100 law enforcement agencies; 500 of those will be distributed in San Gabriel, most during the summer months and back-to-school season.
“We are always looking for ways to help our officers build strong relationships in the community," said Police Chief Harris. "It’s an icebreaker, a way to encourage a great one-on-one interaction with kids in a positive way. This is a great short- and long-term investment for 7-Eleven and of our agency."
Big-city departments and small-town forces alike use the Slurpee coupons to enhance relationships with the young people of their cities by rewarding them for good deeds, constructive activities and acts of kindness. Appropriate “offenses” might include helping another person, deterring crime or participating in a community- or police-sponsored event. Although the reasons for being “ticketed” are varied, the end result is the same for every youngster: a free Slurpee drink and a smile for being a good kid. Each coupon can be redeemed for a small Slurpee drink at participating 7-Eleven stores.
Begun in Philadelphia to give law enforcement officers a positive reason to interact with children and teens, Operation Chill has expanded to hundreds of cities across the country. Since the program’s inception in 1995, almost 21 million Operation Chill coupons have been distributed to law enforcement agencies across the country in areas where 7-Eleven operates stores.
“There’s a reason Operation Chill continues to be our most popular community service program,” said Art Lazo, 7-Eleven vice president of asset protection. “Kids love Slurpee drinks, and police officers love having a reason to approach kids and surprise them with a Slurpee coupon as a reward for doing something good. We, at 7-Eleven, know how important it is for police officers to make those important positive connections with kids early.”
7-Eleven’s proprietary Slurpee semi-frozen carbonated beverage has generational appeal with slurpers both young and old. More than a half-million Slurpee drinks are purchased each day during the summer at 7-Eleven stores across the country.
