Partnership built on shared values: Food Bank of Delaware and the Wills Group

January 28, 2026

What began as a promising connection has grown into a firmly rooted, mutually beneficial partnership between the Food Bank of Delaware and the Wills Group, one grounded not in coincidence, but in deeply shared values and a common commitment to community.

Community giving is a cornerstone of the Wills Group’s corporate culture, according to Sidney Maffett, retail operations training manager. “It’s part of who we are,” he said—an ethos that reflects nearly a century of tradition. Founded in 1926 as a petroleum distributor and headquartered in La Plata, Md., the Wills Group has long supported food banks, even in its earliest days. As the company expanded over time to include Dash In convenience stores, Splash In car washes, and continued fuel services, that commitment to giving back never wavered.

The organization’s connection with the Food Bank of Delaware began to take shape in 2018, when a Dash In store opened in the Pike Creek Valley area. Today, the Wills Group operates 12 Dash In stores throughout New Castle County, with additional growth planned for Kent County.

The partnership was sparked at the grand opening of that Delaware store, which included a community celebration. During the event, Food Bank of Delaware Vice President of Development Larry Haas met members of the Wills Group team. Conversations quickly revealed shared interests, including the Food Bank’s Newark farm operation and workforce development initiatives. From there, a relationship began to grow organically.

Over the past seven years, the Wills Group has donated nearly $850,000 in grants to the Food Bank, Haas said. Beyond financial support, Dash In team members have become familiar faces at the Food Bank—volunteering regularly in the Newark Volunteer Room and on the farm.

Under Maffett’s leadership and driven by a corporate passion to support the Food Bank’s mission to eliminate hunger in Delaware, Dash In stores have also hosted in-store fundraising campaigns. These efforts have supported specific Food Bank initiatives, including the Backpack Program, which provides weekend meals to children at risk of hunger.

The partnership extends well beyond donations. Haas praised Maffett’s openness and collaborative approach, particularly around support for the Food Bank’s Milford facility, where a new building was completed just last year. “I can call Sid and float an idea,” Haas said. “He talks it through to see how they can help.”

That spirit of partnership was on full display more recently, when Dash In supported the Food Bank’s staff holiday meal at the Milford facility. “They didn’t just donate the food—they catered it, came down, and cooked it,” Haas said. “Sid was stressed about making sure the food traveled well and stayed hot. He’s all in, and that care trickles down to the staff.”

Both Haas and Maffett see significant potential for the partnership to grow even stronger in the years ahead. Maffett currently serves on the Food Bank’s golf committee, and once Dash In’s new site along Del. 896 is complete, the company will become a close neighbor to the Food Bank’s Newark campus.

Haas also hopes to further integrate the Food Bank’s workforce development programs—particularly its Culinary and Kitchen schools—into the partnership. “Their stores need cooks because they offer chef-prepared, fresh food, not reheated,” he said. “There’s real potential for job placement for our graduates. We’re also beginning to talk about food rescue as a next step. Our relationship with the Wills Group is one of our models for corporate engagement.”

Maffett shares that enthusiasm. “I’m very passionate about our relationship with the Food Bank,” he said. “It’s awesome to see the Food Bank in action.”