CITGO Lemont Refinery Employees Support Illinois Tornado Relief Efforts

LEMONT, Ill. Feb. 3, 2014, /3BL Media/ -- The CITGO Community Action Team (CCAT), the employee volunteer organization at the CITGO Lemont Refinery, conducted a donation drive to help communities across Illinois recover from the devastating tornadoes in November 2013. CCAT volunteers collected and sorted donations from employees and contractors, including non-perishable food, clothing, infant toiletries, monetary gifts and household goods. They collected more than $1,500 and several hundred relief items for displaced individuals and families in Diamond, Coal City, and Washington, Ill. 

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140203/PH57507 )

"It's a humbling experience to see how my coworkers stepped up to donate and help individuals and families who suffered such tremendous losses," said Pete Colarelli, Government and Public Affairs Manager at the CITGO Lemont Refinery. "We are deeply committed to giving back to our communities and will continue to reach out and help our neighbors get back on their feet and move forward."

The donation drive took place from Nov. 18-25, kicking off the day after an EF2 tornado ravaged the Diamond and Coal Cityarea. CITGO employees and contractors donated $1,500 towards the Illinois tornado relief efforts, as well as vital supplies and volunteer hours to ease the suffering of the storm victims. The donated items were delivered by CCAT members to a collection site near Diamond. These efforts were coordinated with local agencies to guarantee the effective distribution of supplies to tornado victims. 

"This has been a difficult time for us but the donations of volunteer hours, equipment, supplies and money from the CITGO Lemont Refinery employees has allowed our residents and businesses to keep their spirits high and their hope alive," saidVillage of Diamond Mayor Terry Kernc. "They know that they are not alone in this effort to recover and rebuild. The CITGO Lemont Refinery and their employees have made a huge positive impact on the Village of Diamond. We are truly thankful for everything they have done for us and are blessed by their generosity."

The CITGO Lemont Refinery employs more than 800 local residents on a full-time and contract basis in support of the local economy. In addition to producing high quality fuels for a large portion of the network of nearly 6,000 locally-owned CITGO stations across the country, Lemont refinery employees also make a major positive impact on the community. Each year, more than 2,500 volunteer hours and thousands of dollars are given in support of community programs such as Muscular Dystrophy Association, United Way and a variety of environmental and preservation programs. For more information on the CITGO Lemont Refinery, visit www.citgorefining.com/Lemont. 

CITGO, which is based in Houston, is a refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. The company is owned by PDV America, Inc., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Petroleos deVenezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. For more information, visit www.CITGO.com.