Community support is paying off at the pump in the Gillett School District since the kickoff of the Pride Pump at a local gas station.
Riiser Energy, of Wausau, owns the R-Store convenience store and gas station on McKenzie Street and designated a Gillett Pride Pump to raise revenue through community involvement. Two cents of every gallon of gas sold at that pump goes to the school district, at no extra cost to the buyer.
“The only stipulation is that the money that comes in is to be used toward kids,” Superintendent Todd Carlson said.
While the money hasn’t been designated for anything specific so far, Carlson said the district will look for a worthy project.
The district recently received a check for $629.23 for about two months of revenue. During that time, 31,462 gallons of gas were sold. The pump was installed at the end of August, and the money reflects earnings from that point through September.
The checks are sent quarterly, and the next one will cover three months of revenue.
Marketing coordinator Rachel Boehlen said Riiser Energy has reached a few communities with the partnership. It also owns a store in Pound.
“We’ve rolled this out to a few stores in our area, and it’s gone over very well,” she said.
The estimated amount a district receives ranges from $4,000 to $7,000 per year, depending on patronage. There sometimes are lines of drivers waiting to pump gas just so they can use the Pride Pump, she said.
“This is a great way for us to partner with our communities,” Boehlen said. “We’re locally owned and community-minded. It’s a nice way to connect with the communities on an ongoing basis.”
“It’s a great way the school and the community work together for kids,” Carlson added.
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