Do after-school snacks or morning cups of coffee on the run help kids stay healthy? Whitman Middle School is hoping the answer is yes. On Wednesday, Feb. 1 a group of WMS students and faculty participated in the kickoff for a new promotion to raise funds to help the school improve its gymnasium.

During the month of February, Cumberland Farms will donate 20 cents from every Chill Zone beverage, iced tea and hot or iced coffee purchased at the newly renovated store at 280 Temple St. toward additions to the school gym. The fundraising target is $1,000.

School officials want to transform the facility into a multipurpose space to better serve students amd community youth.

“We hope to maximize useage of our large gym facility at our school,” said Principal George Ferro. “The addition of athletic team benches and a dividing curtain will create a myltipurpose gymnasium, allowing students and the community to use the facility for multiple activities at one time.”

Over the past year, Cubmerland Farms has donated more than $100,000 to support local organizations across the Northeast.

“We are so thankful for a giving community partner like Cumberland Farms for helping in this effort to create more acticity space for Whitman Youth,” Ferro said.

Cumberland Farms Retail Division President Ari Haseotes noted the chain in dedicated to help programs like the WMS gymnasium project.

“[We] understand the importance of facility improvements and the additional opportunity it brings to youth programs and sporting events,” Haseotes said.