Thanksgiving is not just a time to eat great food and moan about the leftovers. It’s also a time to give back to others and recognize those in need.

“This is a time to feel fortunate and count your blessings for what you have,” said Rick Thompson, vice president of Gary Thompson Oil Company.

Petroleum Marketers of Iowa is hosting Cent-A-Gallon Day, their annual fund raiser for Camp Courageous of Iowa Wednesday. PMI will be celebrating its 18th year holding the money-raising event.

Participating marketers across Iowa will contribute one cent for every gallon of petroleum product sold, said Dawn Carlson, vice president of PMI. The money raised will be contributed to Camp Courageous of Iowa, a year-round recreational site for individuals with disabilities. Donation canisters also will be placed inside participating stations for people to make personal donations, she said.

“PMI was looking for a way to donate back in the ’80s and chose this camp because it was for an honorable cause,” Carlson said. “The camp is amazing. People with big degrees or even a high-paying job come to the camp to donate their time — it found a place in their hearts.”

Posters will be displayed in windows of participating stations. An estimated 100 stores will be involved in this statewide fund raiser, she said.

“Our association was looking for a way to give back to people,” Thompson said. “Camp Courageous was the decision we chose.”

Thompson’s chain of local Swift Stop stores in Ames are participating in Cent-A-Gallon Day and have done so for many years, he said.

Swift Stop has three Ames locations at 1118 S. Duff Ave., 412 S. Duff Ave. and 3406 Lincoln Way.

“This is a worthwhile cause, and we have supported it ever since we became a member of Petroleum Marketers. It is a great deal for the kids to get out to the outdoors and have fun,” Thompson said.

Carlson said Cent-A-Gallon Day is the only statewide fund raiser Camp Courageous has. The camp is funded solely by donations and is run without any federal assistance.

About 4,000 individuals attend Camp Courageous each year, and it lets disabled children relax, spend time outside and have a great time, she said.

Thompson said he does not have a set fund-raising goal for Wednesday.

“I just hope that the customers donate to the canister also,” he said. “It is really up to the customers donating as to how much is made.”

Carlson said she didn’t know if Camp Courageous has set a goal this year either.

“Each year we just try to do better than the previous year,” she said.