In a move to sweeten relations between law enforcement and Saginaw's youth, the Saginaw Police Department is partnering with 7-Eleven to hand out free Slurpee® coupons through Operation Chill. The initiative, going strong for its 29th year, is 7-Eleven's community outreach program aimed at fostering positive interactions between cops and kids engaged in commendable conduct, as reported by ABC12.
Officers on patrol will be equipped with nearly 550,000 coupons nationwide, given by 7-Eleven, to distribute to children they spot doing good deeds—whether they be wearing a helmet while riding a bike, picking up litter, or assisting their neighbors. According to WNEM, these frozen beverages are not the usual handouts from an officer's utility belt but aim to build a bridge between the badge and the community's future.
The coupons can be claimed for a free small Slurpee® at any participating 7-Elevens, Speedways, or Stripes stores. Last summer marked the first year that also kids at participating Speedway stores were able to use their coupons, spreading the chill factor beyond 7-Eleven's immediate reach.
Marissa Jarratt, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing & Sustainability Officer at 7-Eleven, Inc., celebrated the program's ethos. "We know that every day – in ways large and small – connections are made in our stores and in the neighborhoods we serve. And it’s these positive connections that ultimately help create stronger, safer communities for all of us," she told Mid-Michigan NOW. Various other police agencies in Michigan will be joining Saginaw in Operation Chill, including outposts in Bay City, Carrollton Township, Davison Township, Mt. Morris, and Richfield Township.
Operation Chill began in 1995 in Philadelphia and has since blossomed into a nationwide program that doesn't just dispense refreshing treats on hot days, but also serves as a medium for police officers to foster goodwill in the neighborhoods they patrol. Over the program's lifetime, more than 24 million Slurpee coupons have been funneled to law enforcement agencies across America for distribution to the youth demonstrating the kind of behavior all communities crave to see.
