LEMONT, Ill., Feb. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The CITGO Community Action Team (CCAT), employee volunteers with the CITGO Lemont Refinery, organized a winter coat and supply drive benefiting three local domestic violence shelters serving Will County.  CITGO employees and contractors donated new and gently used coats, hats, gloves, personal care products, clothing and household items for women and children at Guardian Angel Home Community Services, Lamb's Fold Women's Center and Crisis Center for South Suburbia.

"With the holiday season behind us, we recognize there are dedicated companies like CITGO who keep our organization in their hearts year round," said Ines Kutlesa, Chief Executive Officer at Guardian Angel Community Services.  "We are very grateful for their generosity and commitment to helping families in our community."

CCAT members delivered about ten large storage containers full of winter coats and much needed essential household products to the three shelters.  These shelters provide community-based supportive housing and other vital services to help individuals in their efforts to develop healthy, mutually supportive relationships and eliminate domestic violence from their lives.

Earlier this year, CITGO Lemont employees delivered nearly $300 in monetary donations and more than 65 tote bags full of paper towels, household cleaning products, personal hygiene items, diapers and baby wipes to these three shelters as part of the CCAT's "Donations for a Brighter Spring" campaign.

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 de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.  For more information, visit www.CITGO.com.

SOURCE CITGO