Almost one year ago, Ricker’s began raising money for Senkowski, who was seriously injured by an improvised explosive device during his deployment in Afghanistan in April 2011. Prior to his injuries, Senkowski was the primary caretaker to his wife with a disability, their eldest son with autism and their baby.

Since the initial fundraising launch, Ricker’s customers have raised $30,000 for “A Home for Tim,” including a donation from BP and a company match from Ricker’s. These funds secured the land for Senkowski’s home. The groundbreaking for the house will happen this Saturday, May 18, and will include Ricker’s Chairman Jay Ricker as a guest speaker.

“After hearing Tim’s story last year, we knew our stores could provide an outlet to help Tim return and care for his family,” said Ricker. “The customers in the community have gone above and beyond to help build a home for Tim and thank him for all he’s done.”

Ricker’s is hoping to raise an additional $10,000 to help furnish Senkowski’s home. The campaign kicks off Wednesday at 2:30 PM at the Ricker’s at 8^th & Scatterfield in Anderson. Senkowski will attend the launch to thank Ricker’s customers for their generosity.

Customers will be able to donate any dollar amount at all Anderson locations throughout the month of June.

Ricker Oil Company, Inc. was founded in 1979 by Jay and Nancy Ricker in Middletown, Indiana. Ten years later, they purchased the company’s first convenience store. Since its inception, Ricker’s has grown to include 50 high-end convenience stores, which employ more than 650 Hoosiers. Headquartered in Anderson, Indiana, Ricker’s prides itself on clean stores, a friendly environment and staff, and its famous “RickerPop” fountain drinks.

“We’re grateful for the kind and generous customers that enter our stores every day, and we continually look for ways to support the charitable organizations in the towns we serve,” said Chairman Jay Ricker.

Middletown Ricker’s customers were asked to donate $1 to benefit the Middletown Food Pantry, and Ricker’s offered to match their donations.

“Since founding our company in Middletown almost 35 years ago, we always appreciate working with the communities we serve to support a great cause,” said Ricker.

For more information, visit RickersRewards.com or “Like” Ricker’s Rewards on Facebook.

Ricker Oil Company, Inc. was founded in 1979 by Jay and Nancy Ricker in Middletown, Indiana. Ten years later, they purchased the company’s first convenience store. Since its inception, Ricker’s has grown to include 50 high-end convenience stores, which employ more than 650 Hoosiers. Headquartered in Anderson, Indiana, Ricker’s prides itself on clean stores, a friendly environment and staff, and its famous “RickerPop” fountain drinks.

The proposed store on the 12-acre site located at the southeast corner of the intersection included a seven and one half acre natural preservation area to serve as a buffer between the store and neighboring housing developments.

The proposal met with mixed opinions from the Carmel community, and some residents of the nearby Woodfield subdivision were strongly opposed to the development, with concerns about the impact the store may have on their homes and community.

“Though we have made every effort to accommodate requests by creating a site plan that leaves a substantial amount of wooded area to serve as a buffer between our site and neighboring housing developments, we have listened to the people in the nearby neighborhood and the community of Carmel at large and have elected not to pursue building at this location,” said Founder and Chairman Jay Ricker.

Though Ricker’s has pulled their plans at the 146th Street and Gray Road intersection, the company is still pursuing other options to provide a store in the area.

“We appreciate the professional manner of the various City of Carmel officials, committees, employees and residents with whom we worked with during this process, and we look forward to operating more stores in the Carmel community,” said Ricker.

Ricker’s remains a part of the Carmel and Westfield community with its store at 151^st Street and U.S. 31. This store was the top performer in the 2012 Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign, collecting the most funds among all 50 Ricker’s statewide locations. The 151^st Street Ricker’s store also raises money throughout the year for local charities in Carmel and Westfield.

“We look forward to continuing to serve our customers in the Carmel and Westfield community while providing the very best fuels at the lowest possible price,” said Ricker.

For more information about Ricker’s, visit RickersRewards.com or “Like” Ricker’s Rewards on Facebook.

Ricker Oil Company, Inc. was founded in 1979 by Jay and Nancy Ricker in Middletown, Indiana. Ten years later, they purchased the company’s first convenience store. Since its inception, Ricker’s has grown to include 50 high-end convenience stores, which employ more than 600 Hoosiers. Headquartered in Anderson, Indiana, Ricker’s prides itself on clean stores, a friendly environment and staff, and its famous “Ricker Pop” fountain drinks.

The BP Fueling Communities Program allows local BP-branded marketers to support organizations that focus on health, education, youth, food and housing to spread goodwill among neighbors in need.

“We have been supportive of Habitat for Humanity since 1998 and as a family-owned business in Madison County, we have always had a passion for the work that this organization continues to do in our community,” said Founder Nancy Ricker.

To be nominated for the grant, a BP-branded marketer, such as Ricker’s, must submit a grant on behalf of a local organization.

“We feel strongly that BP’s giving is making an impact locally, and we wanted to nominate Habitat for Humanity not just because of the work they do in our community, but also nationally and worldwide,” said Ricker.

For more information about Ricker’s, visit RickersRewards.com or “Like” Ricker’s Rewards on Facebook.

Ricker Oil Company, Inc. was founded in 1979 by Jay and Nancy Ricker in Middletown, Indiana. Ten years later, they purchased the company’s first convenience store. Since its inception, Ricker’s has grown to include 50 high-end convenience stores, which employ more than 600 Hoosiers. Headquartered in Anderson, Indiana, Ricker’s prides itself on clean stores, a friendly environment and staff, and its famous “Ricker Pop” fountain drinks.

For The Salvation Army’s 122nd Red Kettle Campaign, Ricker’s 50 stores raised $27,500. Because of the match made by Ricker’s, this year’s campaign collected more than double the funds last year and the largest amount ever raised by Ricker’s for The Salvation Army.

“Our stores did an extraordinary job of collecting donations for The Red Kettle Campaign this year, and we wanted to offer even more to this community effort by matching that amount,” said Ricker’s Founder and Chairman Jay Ricker.

To commemorate the success of this year’s campaign, Pops the Clown will thank customers with free RickerPops and a drawing for four $25 gas cards at the Westfield Ricker’s store (151^st and U.S. 31) from 2:00pm to 3:30pm on Friday. Pops will also present The Salvation Army with a check for $27,500.

“Pops is the spokesperson for Ricker’s charitable efforts, and customers always enjoy his visits to local stores, especially when they discover he’s me, the owner,” said Ricker.

Friday morning, Pops will also make a stop at the North Keystone store from 10:30am to 12:30pm to sign autographs, congratulate Ricker’s employees and host a drawing for another four $25 gas cards. While there, Pops will kick off a fundraiser for The Food Link, an Indianapolis-based hunger relief charity.

“We’re thrilled to hit the ground running with another exciting in-store fundraising initiative with The Food Link, a great organization feeding people right here in Indianapolis,” Ricker said.

Customers can visit designated Ricker’s locations to make a donation to The Food Link.

In addition to his visits to thank Ricker’s customers, Pops will also surprise shoppers at The Salvation Army Family Store on East Washington Street on Wednesday, January 30, with free RickerPops and one $25 gas card from 2:00pm to 3:30pm. Pops will also pay for one lucky shopper’s entire cart.

For more information about Ricker’s, visit RickersRewards.com or “Like” Ricker’s Rewards on Facebook.

Ricker Oil Company, Inc. was founded in 1979 by Jay and Nancy Ricker in Middletown, Indiana. Ten years later, they purchased the company’s first convenience store. Since its inception, Ricker’s has grown to include 50 high-end convenience stores, which employ more than 600 Hoosiers. Headquartered in Anderson, Indiana, Ricker’s prides itself on clean stores, a friendly environment and staff, and its famous “Ricker Pop” fountain drinks.

The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination since 1865. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. About 82 cents of every dollar raised is used to support those services in nearly 5,000 communities nationwide.

The Food Link is a not-for-profit, non-denominational organization committed to providing hunger relief to those in need in the city of Indianapolis. With the support of generous donations, partnerships with inner-city churches, and hours of volunteers’ time The Food Link has been reaching out to those who desperately need help for 30 years.

“We know our customers appreciate the current 10¢ savings each time they fill up. We also know that during the holiday season every penny counts, so we’re excited to be able to offer a special 12¢ off every gallon of gasoline throughout December,” said Ricker’s President and CEO, Quinn Ricker.

Ricker’s created the Ricker’s Rewards program in February of this year to pass savings from credit card fees to its customers. More than 30,000 members across Indiana are already using their Ricker’s Rewards card. Members also save on items in-store with Ricker’s Club 10. Simply buy 10 of any qualifying item and the 11^th is free.

With the Ricker’s Rewards card (which can only be used at Ricker’s locations), there is no annual fee and no points. The savings are instant. Best of all, the process is the safest and most secure in the industry because it requires a PIN number. In addition, customers are emailed receipts every time they use their card.

“The goal for our rewards program is to make it the easiest way for our loyal customers to pay for the highest quality fuel at the lowest possible price,” Ricker said.

Ricker’s estimates less than 30 gallons of fuel were spilled while being transferred from one tank to another by a third party Monday morning at the Ricker’s BP in Fishers at 116^th Street and Cumberland Road.

The fuel made its way into a nearby storm drain, but Ricker’s moved swiftly and captured the fuel before it made its way from the drain and posed any risks to the environment. Representatives from the Town of Fishers and emergency crews were dispatched to the 116th and Cumberland Road Ricker’s location to ensure the safety of the area and took a necessary precaution of shutting down a nearby shopping center.

Creek Run Environmental Engineering was also called to the site and made a full investigation, which included a series of readings for both in-ground and airborne particles.

Jason Shriner, Head of Operations Group at Creek Run Environmental Engineering, said there is no risk to drinking water nor does the incident pose any environmental risks. Ricker’s will continue to monitor the area in the coming days.

View the latest coverage by the Anderson Herald Bulletin.