Country Fair is more than just a gas station.

Its big focus is local and having items in convenience stores like chocolate that are locally owned and/or produced. That includes local bread, wines, beer, butter, cookies and even self-defense key chains from a local business.

The company has even earned a Forbes 2019 America's Best Midsize Employers designation.

Country Fair has been around for 56 years and implemented some changes in 2018.

"We really wanted to focus on what's happening," said Paul Rankin, division manager for Country Fair. "What our customers, what our team members wanted."

So, the Country Fair CARES program was created with a focus on employees from behind the kitchen and the counter.

The program has also provided top tier gas to customers, more fresh products and a continued chance to give back companywide.

"We've always been contributors to the various charities and things in this market, but we made a commitment to giving two cents a gallon in various dispensaries in our pumps," said Rankin. 

Just this year alone, more than $142,000 was given out to five local charities, and the giving does not stop there.

Headquartered on Erie's east side, Country FAir has teamed up with the Second Harvest Food Bank for a donation program.

Store employees gather deli meat before the expiration date and other items to pack and get ready for food bank agencies to pick up.

"The program started in February 2018 with three stores," said Lisa Luben, division food sService manager. "We're 70 percent donating, and our grand total is 683,000 meals."

That's food and other donations in Pennsylvania from an Erie-based company with a reach into Ohio and New York.