Dollar General Celebrates National Employee Appreciation Day
Mar 03, 2022
Dollar General is committed to improving the opportunities for employees and continues to invest in our diverse teams through development, empowerment and inclusion as outlined in one of the Company’s four operating priorities. With a current workforce of more than 164,000 strong, we believe in recognizing the work our teams do to bring our mission of Serving Others to life.
March 4 is National Employee Appreciation Day and we appreciate our employees so much, one day was not enough to celebrate! This week, Dollar General and pOpshelf hosted recognition activities for teams in the field, supply chain and store support center.
Each day, DG Kindness and pOpstar stories showcasing employees leading with compassion and kindness were highlighted. To further demonstrate DG’s employee appreciation, the Company is making a $1,000 donation to the nonprofit of the employees' choice in their honor. Join us in celebrating these employees for inspiring others!
Tracy R., Team Member, pOpshelf Store #23707 in Beaufort, SC
Tracy’s husband served more than 30 years in the military. During his service, they lived in more than ten homes, domestically and abroad. Prior to joining the pOpshelf team, she was a nurse and served as a volunteer EMT with the fire department. When they moved to the South Carolina community of Dataw Island, she wanted to find a job close to home to 'get out of the house' a day or two a week. That is when she found pOpshelf.
Region Director Matt Frame shared, “Tracy is known in the local community for her acts of compassion and genuine concern for our military veterans, and for helping with conservation efforts to preserve waterfowl habitats. She has only been with pOpshelf for five months and already customers ask for her by name. She genuinely cares about helping them have a great experience when shopping with us. It is an honor to nominate her as a pOpstar!”
Tracy is dedicated to supporting veterans and honoring those who have served in our military. For more than ten years, she and her husband have supported Wreaths Across America events and recently started volunteering for Wounded Warrior Project events. The most recent event was a golf tournament where veterans and their families were able to connect and enjoy time together.
“I am grateful for all of the journeys I have made and am happy to call South Carolina home. In each of the communities I lived, I looked for ways to connect and contribute. My work with wildlife conservation and honoring our men and women who have served in our military will always be my passion. It is wonderful to work for a company that encourages me to do what I love, and I love working for pOpshelf! My team members are so special and care so much about their work. Being able to contribute to this team and our customers makes me smile and brings me joy!”
To recognize Tracy’s act of DG Kindness, Dollar General is making a $1,000 donation to Dataw Island charities whose efforts include hosting community giving events to support conservation efforts.
Brian V., Store Manager, Store #21531 in New Castle, PA
Brian is known in the local community for his acts of compassion and genuine concern for his neighbors. At the beginning of the pandemic, Brian realized that several of his neighbors felt unsafe leaving their homes. To help ensure his neighbors could feel safe and still have the items they need, he and his wife Virginia opened a ‘Donate What You Can, Take What You Need’ food bank on the front lawn of his home. Using local connections in his hometown of Homewood, Pennsylvania, they were able to keep the pantry stocked with milk, juice, snacks, bread and household supplies. Nearly two years later, Brian and his wife continue to deliver boxes of fresh food and essentials to families impacted by Covid.
Not only does Brian show compassion for his neighbors through hunger relief and supply drive efforts, but also in his everyday leadership actions. Recently, Brian found an envelope of $1,000 cash on a shelf in his DG store. Luckily, there was a name inside the envelope, and with the help of his wife, was able to find the customer through social media. The customer was extremely grateful for Brian’s honesty and going above and beyond to get the cash back to her.
“I was shocked when I saw what was in the envelope. I knew I had to find who left it and return it as soon as possible. It’s just what you do,” shared Brian. “I started with Dollar General eleven years ago and this job allows me to serve the community where my wife and I live, beyond being in-stock and open. It allows me to work outside the four walls of the store. Working during the uncertain times of the pandemic was hard – mentally and emotionally. I found energy to help others beyond the store. Taking the time to really listen and hear my customers is something I train my team to do. Sometimes our customers need to just talk, and we are here for them. I love my community and being able to help others. One day, I may need help too!”
District Manager Matt Ward shared, “Brian goes the extra mile every day to maintain a great store and serve the community of New Castle. Serving Others is in Brian’s DNA. He does not seek the spotlight; he just does the right thing day in and day out. He is known throughout his community for going the extra mile. What a great reputation to have!”
To recognize Brian’s act of DG Kindness, Dollar General is making a $1,000 donation to Homewood Heritage Foundation whose efforts include hosting community giving events to collect items for those in need.
Joi B., Senior HR Manager, Indianola, MS Distribution Center
Throughout the month of January, Joi hosted a feminine care and hygiene products donation drive with family and friends to create a ‘Keep It Cute’ shelf for the student resource center at Merritt Middle School in the Indianola community. The items gathered for donation are rarely provided, which can lead to girls’ facing the difficulty of having a need and no access to the products. The donation drive was so successful, the school asked Joi if she would consider collecting socks to have on hand at the school as well.
“I never knew that something so small and basic, like socks and hygiene items, would have such an overwhelming positive response,” said Joi. “The reaction made me pause and reflect on how I sometimes take for granted these basics and my ability to have them readily available.”
Joi has been with Dollar General since 2012, but her passion to support young women started 18 years ago when she began volunteering in the local community with her college sorority. “Dollar General’s mission of Serving Others easily aligned with my own passion to give back to others,” shared Joi. “I created this drive to provide young girls the products they need to feel healthier and happy with themselves. These are resources that young girls may not have available. I did not want them to feel self-conscious and not have the products they may need.”
Gary Brown, Indianola Distribution Center Director, shared, “I am thankful for Joi and her passion to help influence and lead the pre-teens and teenagers in our community. Her care for others is contagious. We are fortunate to have Joi as a part of the DG family.”
To recognize Joi’s act of DG Kindness, Dollar General is making a $1,000 donation to Inside Out Academy whose mission is to support children in the Cleveland, Mississippi community to build tomorrow’s leaders.
David P., District Manager, Topeka, Kansas
David’s passion for the communities that Dollar General serves truly represents our mission of Serving Others. During the holidays, David wanted to do something special for families in need in Kansas City and Grandview, Missouri. He reached out to the local police department and organized an event, ‘Blue Santa.’ The event connected families in need with local police officers. David, with the support of others on his DG team, was able to build excitement in these communities, resulting in more than 2,000 toys donated for the cause. Thank you to District Manager Lena Morris, Regional Asset Protection Manager Rhonda Rouchka, Regional Director Ben Franks and Store #7042, led by Dana Ricard, for support in these events.
“I have been in retail since 2006, mainly focused on specialty and convenience store formats, and I joined Dollar General about seven months ago. The one constant, regardless of the retail segment, is customer care. When we show our customers that we care about them, as our friends and our extended family, we help to build relationships,” said David. “I have found that connecting with kids connects with the family. This is at the core of the Blue Santa event. The event was designed to collect toys for the local police to gift to families in need. I was so amazed at how generous the communities were.”
Regional Director Brett Sorensen shared, “I am thankful to have David on the DG team. Not only is he producing great business results, but he is also quickly building relationships within the community and this event is a testimony to his impact. This was the first year Dollar General hosted this event, and the turnout was incredible. David’s care for others is contagious. We are fortunate to have him as a part of the DG family.”
To recognize David’s act of DG Kindness, Dollar General is making a $1,000 donation to a local Kansas City non-profit whose mission is to bring citizens and first-responders together to support children’s needs within the communities called home.
Dianne J., Kammy J., Kristina Z., Meghan B. and Rachel K., Store Support Center, Goodlettsville, TN
This act of DG Kindness honors five employees who have volunteered their time, year over year, to support the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.
One of Dollar General’s foundational giving efforts is in support of literacy – to further the love of reading in everyone, offer support to learn English and provide resources to gain a high school diploma. Since 1993, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded more than $203 million in grants helping more than 14.8 million individuals learn to read, prepare for the high school equivalency test or learn English.
Each year, DG and the DGLF encourages nonprofit literacy organizations, schools and libraries in the communities we call home to request funding to support their literacy and education efforts through our grant programs. The Foundation has four signature grant programs that organizations can apply for including Adult Literacy, Family Literacy, Summer Reading and Youth Literacy. In an effort to engage employees in the grant review process, Team LIT was founded in 2018. This team is made up of employees passionate about furthering literacy efforts throughout the 47 states where Dollar General stores and distribution centers are located.
Read more about who they are, the roles they have and why they are passionate to volunteer:
Dianne J. has been with Dollar General for 12 years and currently has the role of Senior Analyst, HR Shared Services. She has volunteered for Team LIT since its inception and her real passion is with the Big Brother Big Sister program. “This program promotes one on one mentoring, providing the opportunity to make a deeper connection,” shared Dianne. In her weekly visits, she helps with homework, plays games, reads or just hangs out. She shared that each visit “is the highlight” of her week.
Kammy J. is celebrating her ninth year with Dollar General, and like Dianne, was a founding member of the Team LIT group. Kammy currently supports the executive team leading our supply chain and field operations. As weather permits, you will find Kammy outdoors, whether volunteering for Habitat for Humanity or doing yard work. Kammy shared, “I live a simple life. I love connecting with people through music and supporting my grandson, who plays college basketball.” Kammy is also an advocate for veterans and participates in fundraisers or food drives to support those in the military.
The third member of Team LIT is Kristina Z., a Team Leader for Tax Licensing. For personal development, she enjoys participating in a women’s spiritual book club. Kristina, through the support of her husband, Keith, and daughter, Penley Kathleen, also loves running and hiking. “Literacy is something I have always been passionate about. I have been a tutor for the Literacy Council of Middle Tennessee and served on their board of directors. I am grateful to work for a company that is as passionate about learning as I am.”
Meghan B. is a Senior Employment Attorney. Her passion for literacy began in high school where she volunteered as a tutor with the local elementary school. Currently, Meghan supports students in need from Hattie Cotton Elementary by reading or helping with homework. “There is something so special about watching a child learn how to pronounce a new word or solve a math problem. The confidence they gain is shown by the smile on their faces. It is such an honor to have the opportunity to make a small impact in a child’s life,” shared Meghan.
Rachel K. has always loved a good story and making those stories come to life. “The ability to read gives you power – to learn, to escape to another place and to dream,” shared Rachel. “Reading is a gift that never ends.” For more than ten years, Rachel has been supporting Madison Creek Elementary through their library program. Rachel enjoys leading theater camps, teaching praise and worship songs to preschoolers and serving meals to the homeless in her community. She has been with Dollar General for seven years and is a Paralegal.
We are so grateful to share the stories of these incredible women. To further the joy of reading and give hope to those who learn, DG Kindness is making a $1,000 donation to each of these non-profits in honor of our Team LIT volunteers: Carnegie Public Library of Clarksdale, Mississippi; East Nashville Hope Exchange; Literacy Council of Middle Tennessee; Book ‘em; and Madison Creek Elementary.
As we wrap up our week of celebrating our team, we wish to thank Tracy, Brian, Joi, David, Dianne, Kammy, Kristina, Meghan and Rachel for their acts of compassion and for inspiring those around them with their kindness! Read more stories of DG Kindness on our blog.
DG Announces Plans to Create 10,000 Net New Jobs in FY 2022
Interested in joining the Dollar General team? In conjunction with National Employee Appreciation Day, Dollar General announced plans to create approximately 10,000 net new career opportunities in fiscal 2022 through expected new store, distribution center and private fleet growth.
DG offers eligible employees 401k savings and retirement plans, health and wellness benefits including day-one telemedicine eligibility with no co-pay, tuition reimbursement, paid parental leave and adoption assistance, and the Company’s Employee Assistance Foundation. Employees also benefit from Dollar General’s world-class and award-winning training and development programs.
Learn more about current career opportunities and apply online at https://www.dollargeneral.com/careers.
March 4 is National Employee Appreciation Day and we appreciate our employees so much, one day was not enough to celebrate! This week, Dollar General and pOpshelf hosted recognition activities for teams in the field, supply chain and store support center.
Each day, DG Kindness and pOpstar stories showcasing employees leading with compassion and kindness were highlighted. To further demonstrate DG’s employee appreciation, the Company is making a $1,000 donation to the nonprofit of the employees' choice in their honor. Join us in celebrating these employees for inspiring others!
Tracy R., Team Member, pOpshelf Store #23707 in Beaufort, SC
Tracy’s husband served more than 30 years in the military. During his service, they lived in more than ten homes, domestically and abroad. Prior to joining the pOpshelf team, she was a nurse and served as a volunteer EMT with the fire department. When they moved to the South Carolina community of Dataw Island, she wanted to find a job close to home to 'get out of the house' a day or two a week. That is when she found pOpshelf.
Region Director Matt Frame shared, “Tracy is known in the local community for her acts of compassion and genuine concern for our military veterans, and for helping with conservation efforts to preserve waterfowl habitats. She has only been with pOpshelf for five months and already customers ask for her by name. She genuinely cares about helping them have a great experience when shopping with us. It is an honor to nominate her as a pOpstar!”
Tracy is dedicated to supporting veterans and honoring those who have served in our military. For more than ten years, she and her husband have supported Wreaths Across America events and recently started volunteering for Wounded Warrior Project events. The most recent event was a golf tournament where veterans and their families were able to connect and enjoy time together.
“I am grateful for all of the journeys I have made and am happy to call South Carolina home. In each of the communities I lived, I looked for ways to connect and contribute. My work with wildlife conservation and honoring our men and women who have served in our military will always be my passion. It is wonderful to work for a company that encourages me to do what I love, and I love working for pOpshelf! My team members are so special and care so much about their work. Being able to contribute to this team and our customers makes me smile and brings me joy!”
To recognize Tracy’s act of DG Kindness, Dollar General is making a $1,000 donation to Dataw Island charities whose efforts include hosting community giving events to support conservation efforts.
Brian V., Store Manager, Store #21531 in New Castle, PA
Brian is known in the local community for his acts of compassion and genuine concern for his neighbors. At the beginning of the pandemic, Brian realized that several of his neighbors felt unsafe leaving their homes. To help ensure his neighbors could feel safe and still have the items they need, he and his wife Virginia opened a ‘Donate What You Can, Take What You Need’ food bank on the front lawn of his home. Using local connections in his hometown of Homewood, Pennsylvania, they were able to keep the pantry stocked with milk, juice, snacks, bread and household supplies. Nearly two years later, Brian and his wife continue to deliver boxes of fresh food and essentials to families impacted by Covid.
Not only does Brian show compassion for his neighbors through hunger relief and supply drive efforts, but also in his everyday leadership actions. Recently, Brian found an envelope of $1,000 cash on a shelf in his DG store. Luckily, there was a name inside the envelope, and with the help of his wife, was able to find the customer through social media. The customer was extremely grateful for Brian’s honesty and going above and beyond to get the cash back to her.
“I was shocked when I saw what was in the envelope. I knew I had to find who left it and return it as soon as possible. It’s just what you do,” shared Brian. “I started with Dollar General eleven years ago and this job allows me to serve the community where my wife and I live, beyond being in-stock and open. It allows me to work outside the four walls of the store. Working during the uncertain times of the pandemic was hard – mentally and emotionally. I found energy to help others beyond the store. Taking the time to really listen and hear my customers is something I train my team to do. Sometimes our customers need to just talk, and we are here for them. I love my community and being able to help others. One day, I may need help too!”
District Manager Matt Ward shared, “Brian goes the extra mile every day to maintain a great store and serve the community of New Castle. Serving Others is in Brian’s DNA. He does not seek the spotlight; he just does the right thing day in and day out. He is known throughout his community for going the extra mile. What a great reputation to have!”
To recognize Brian’s act of DG Kindness, Dollar General is making a $1,000 donation to Homewood Heritage Foundation whose efforts include hosting community giving events to collect items for those in need.
Joi B., Senior HR Manager, Indianola, MS Distribution Center
Throughout the month of January, Joi hosted a feminine care and hygiene products donation drive with family and friends to create a ‘Keep It Cute’ shelf for the student resource center at Merritt Middle School in the Indianola community. The items gathered for donation are rarely provided, which can lead to girls’ facing the difficulty of having a need and no access to the products. The donation drive was so successful, the school asked Joi if she would consider collecting socks to have on hand at the school as well.
“I never knew that something so small and basic, like socks and hygiene items, would have such an overwhelming positive response,” said Joi. “The reaction made me pause and reflect on how I sometimes take for granted these basics and my ability to have them readily available.”
Joi has been with Dollar General since 2012, but her passion to support young women started 18 years ago when she began volunteering in the local community with her college sorority. “Dollar General’s mission of Serving Others easily aligned with my own passion to give back to others,” shared Joi. “I created this drive to provide young girls the products they need to feel healthier and happy with themselves. These are resources that young girls may not have available. I did not want them to feel self-conscious and not have the products they may need.”
Gary Brown, Indianola Distribution Center Director, shared, “I am thankful for Joi and her passion to help influence and lead the pre-teens and teenagers in our community. Her care for others is contagious. We are fortunate to have Joi as a part of the DG family.”
To recognize Joi’s act of DG Kindness, Dollar General is making a $1,000 donation to Inside Out Academy whose mission is to support children in the Cleveland, Mississippi community to build tomorrow’s leaders.
David P., District Manager, Topeka, Kansas
David’s passion for the communities that Dollar General serves truly represents our mission of Serving Others. During the holidays, David wanted to do something special for families in need in Kansas City and Grandview, Missouri. He reached out to the local police department and organized an event, ‘Blue Santa.’ The event connected families in need with local police officers. David, with the support of others on his DG team, was able to build excitement in these communities, resulting in more than 2,000 toys donated for the cause. Thank you to District Manager Lena Morris, Regional Asset Protection Manager Rhonda Rouchka, Regional Director Ben Franks and Store #7042, led by Dana Ricard, for support in these events.
“I have been in retail since 2006, mainly focused on specialty and convenience store formats, and I joined Dollar General about seven months ago. The one constant, regardless of the retail segment, is customer care. When we show our customers that we care about them, as our friends and our extended family, we help to build relationships,” said David. “I have found that connecting with kids connects with the family. This is at the core of the Blue Santa event. The event was designed to collect toys for the local police to gift to families in need. I was so amazed at how generous the communities were.”
Regional Director Brett Sorensen shared, “I am thankful to have David on the DG team. Not only is he producing great business results, but he is also quickly building relationships within the community and this event is a testimony to his impact. This was the first year Dollar General hosted this event, and the turnout was incredible. David’s care for others is contagious. We are fortunate to have him as a part of the DG family.”
To recognize David’s act of DG Kindness, Dollar General is making a $1,000 donation to a local Kansas City non-profit whose mission is to bring citizens and first-responders together to support children’s needs within the communities called home.
Dianne J., Kammy J., Kristina Z., Meghan B. and Rachel K., Store Support Center, Goodlettsville, TN
This act of DG Kindness honors five employees who have volunteered their time, year over year, to support the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.
One of Dollar General’s foundational giving efforts is in support of literacy – to further the love of reading in everyone, offer support to learn English and provide resources to gain a high school diploma. Since 1993, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded more than $203 million in grants helping more than 14.8 million individuals learn to read, prepare for the high school equivalency test or learn English.
Each year, DG and the DGLF encourages nonprofit literacy organizations, schools and libraries in the communities we call home to request funding to support their literacy and education efforts through our grant programs. The Foundation has four signature grant programs that organizations can apply for including Adult Literacy, Family Literacy, Summer Reading and Youth Literacy. In an effort to engage employees in the grant review process, Team LIT was founded in 2018. This team is made up of employees passionate about furthering literacy efforts throughout the 47 states where Dollar General stores and distribution centers are located.
Read more about who they are, the roles they have and why they are passionate to volunteer:
Dianne J. has been with Dollar General for 12 years and currently has the role of Senior Analyst, HR Shared Services. She has volunteered for Team LIT since its inception and her real passion is with the Big Brother Big Sister program. “This program promotes one on one mentoring, providing the opportunity to make a deeper connection,” shared Dianne. In her weekly visits, she helps with homework, plays games, reads or just hangs out. She shared that each visit “is the highlight” of her week.
Kammy J. is celebrating her ninth year with Dollar General, and like Dianne, was a founding member of the Team LIT group. Kammy currently supports the executive team leading our supply chain and field operations. As weather permits, you will find Kammy outdoors, whether volunteering for Habitat for Humanity or doing yard work. Kammy shared, “I live a simple life. I love connecting with people through music and supporting my grandson, who plays college basketball.” Kammy is also an advocate for veterans and participates in fundraisers or food drives to support those in the military.
The third member of Team LIT is Kristina Z., a Team Leader for Tax Licensing. For personal development, she enjoys participating in a women’s spiritual book club. Kristina, through the support of her husband, Keith, and daughter, Penley Kathleen, also loves running and hiking. “Literacy is something I have always been passionate about. I have been a tutor for the Literacy Council of Middle Tennessee and served on their board of directors. I am grateful to work for a company that is as passionate about learning as I am.”
Meghan B. is a Senior Employment Attorney. Her passion for literacy began in high school where she volunteered as a tutor with the local elementary school. Currently, Meghan supports students in need from Hattie Cotton Elementary by reading or helping with homework. “There is something so special about watching a child learn how to pronounce a new word or solve a math problem. The confidence they gain is shown by the smile on their faces. It is such an honor to have the opportunity to make a small impact in a child’s life,” shared Meghan.
Rachel K. has always loved a good story and making those stories come to life. “The ability to read gives you power – to learn, to escape to another place and to dream,” shared Rachel. “Reading is a gift that never ends.” For more than ten years, Rachel has been supporting Madison Creek Elementary through their library program. Rachel enjoys leading theater camps, teaching praise and worship songs to preschoolers and serving meals to the homeless in her community. She has been with Dollar General for seven years and is a Paralegal.
We are so grateful to share the stories of these incredible women. To further the joy of reading and give hope to those who learn, DG Kindness is making a $1,000 donation to each of these non-profits in honor of our Team LIT volunteers: Carnegie Public Library of Clarksdale, Mississippi; East Nashville Hope Exchange; Literacy Council of Middle Tennessee; Book ‘em; and Madison Creek Elementary.
As we wrap up our week of celebrating our team, we wish to thank Tracy, Brian, Joi, David, Dianne, Kammy, Kristina, Meghan and Rachel for their acts of compassion and for inspiring those around them with their kindness! Read more stories of DG Kindness on our blog.
DG Announces Plans to Create 10,000 Net New Jobs in FY 2022
Interested in joining the Dollar General team? In conjunction with National Employee Appreciation Day, Dollar General announced plans to create approximately 10,000 net new career opportunities in fiscal 2022 through expected new store, distribution center and private fleet growth.
DG offers eligible employees 401k savings and retirement plans, health and wellness benefits including day-one telemedicine eligibility with no co-pay, tuition reimbursement, paid parental leave and adoption assistance, and the Company’s Employee Assistance Foundation. Employees also benefit from Dollar General’s world-class and award-winning training and development programs.
Learn more about current career opportunities and apply online at https://www.dollargeneral.com/careers.