Meals on Wheels is blessed to have a dedicated group of volunteers and greatly appreciates the generosity of Rent-A-Center for this opportunity to acknowledge the difference they make to the clients we serve on a daily basis.
Jane Schramm, executive director, Senior Services of Albany, New York

left to right - Jane Schramm, Executive Director of the Senior Services, Albany Region; Anthony Marino, Regional Vice President, American Cancer Society, Capital District; and Cathy Skula, RAC's locally based Regional Director.

Senior Services and the American Cancer Society were two agencies receiving $3,000 in gas cards each to assist volunteers participating in their Meals on Wheels and Road to Recovery programs, respectively.

In its third New York state Random Act of Caring initiative, Rent-A-Center (NASDAQ: RCII) coworkers from around New York and the company's home office visited with four community organizations in Albany, Schenectady and Troy handing out $12,500 in gas gift cards to those group's volunteers to say "thank you" during National Volunteer Appreciation Week.

More than 400 volunteers from the American Cancer Society Capital Region, The Community Hospice, Senior Services of Albany (Meals on Wheels) and Umbrella of the Capital District received the gift cards to help them defray the fuel costs incurred while donating their time and services to help others.

Rent-A-Center launched the statewide initiative two months ago. "It lets us surprise people, who weren't expecting the day to be any different from any other day, with something that instantly enhances their lives simply because someone cares," said Ted DeMarino, senior vice president for Rent-A-Center in upstate New York. Rent-A-Center operates more than 170 stores throughout New York.

Volunteerism is a powerful and critical force in America, providing needed services to millions each year. To help ensure volunteers remain able to help, Rent-A-Center decided that the best way to say "thank you" during National Volunteer Appreciation Week was to help offset some of their transportation costs.

"Thanks to Rent-A-Center's generous support, we will now have the opportunity to help our volunteers cover the fuel costs they incur throughout the year helping senior citizens and disabled home owners throughout the Capital District to continue to live safely and independently in their own homes," said Ron Byrne, director, Umbrella of the Capital District. "Over the past few years, the cost of gas just to get to and from the thousands of jobs we do each year has skyrocketed. Now we will be able to cover these costs which in turn I believe will make Umbrella an even more attractive volunteer opportunity."

"The need is greater than ever for non-profits to raise funds and encourage volunteerism," said Jane Schramm, executive director, Senior Services of Albany. "Meals on Wheels is blessed to have a dedicated group of volunteers and greatly appreciates the generosity of Rent-A-Center for this opportunity to acknowledge the difference they make to the clients we serve on a daily basis."

"Hospice volunteers do so much to help our patients and their families," says Ronald F. Watson, president and CEO of The Community Hospice. "This donation is a great way of recognizing their commitment and thanking them for the service they provide to the community."

"For many people, actually getting to their cancer treatment appointments is an obstacle that stands in the way of receiving life-saving treatments," said Anthony Marino, regional vice president for the American Cancer Society, Capital Region. "Our Road to Recovery volunteers are life savers. They drive patients to and from their treatment appointments - providing peace of mind during a time that is overwhelming and devastating. The gas cards provided through this generous donation by Rent-A-Center will go to our Road to Recovery drivers as a way of recognizing the significant contribution each has made to every patient they have touched!"