Marathon Sends Over 400 HeroBoxes!

Feb. 20, 2017 - Employees at Marathon Petroleum Company LP (MPC) coordinated an effort to pack and ship 412 HeroBox shipments to seven deployed units in various parts of the world. In total, nearly 700 employees in MPC’s Terminal, Transport and Rail (TT&R) organization, located in 15 states across the Midwest and Southeast United States, rallied other MPC organizations to join the collection drives and participate in fundraisers to assemble the HeroBox donation. In addition to the HeroBoxes donated to individual veterans, a $1,500 donation was made by MPC to HeroBox in honor of veteran TT&R employees. Lowe’s also joined the collection effort, donating six refrigerator/microwave combination units. HeroBox is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that supports deployed American service members. Its mission is to provide the physical items and moral support these heroes need while away from home protecting our freedom. As of 2011, there are volunteers in all 50 states who help send over 10,000 HeroBoxes annually.

“We are extremely excited about our relationship with Marathon Petroleum Company and TT&R,” said HeroBox Executive Director Ryan Houseley. “This undertaking would not have been as successful without great collaboration of efforts.”

The best reward is the response received from these troops:

“On behalf of the VMM-266 Ordnance division, I would like to thank you for the wonderful care package that you assembled and sent our way. There are nine U.S. Marines that make up the division here during our deployment, and we were all able to benefit from the assortment of items that you sent to us. These little gestures mean the world while we are away, and your time and effort is really appreciated by all of us. We are very proud to serve our wonderful country and these small acts help remind us of who we are protecting. Again, we sincerely thank you and wish you a wonderful day!”

- Sgt. Becker, Christoper E. , VMM-266 “Fighting Griffins”, SPMAGTF-CR-AF Ordinance Chief

"We received the packages today! Thank you so much! My guys and gals were excited to open them up. Again, thank you for your support. It's much easier being over here away from family knowing there are Great Americans like y'all who have our backs!”

- Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Cookman