Truck stop management firm TravelCenters of America LLC has donated $278,095 to a charity that helps professional truck drivers who are suffering financial hardship due to medical problems, the groups said Friday.

Westlake, Ohio-based TravelCenters made its annual campaign donation to the St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund (SCF), collecting the money from customer and employee donations during its annual "Band Together for SCF" campaign.

The fundraising campaign relied on the power of small gifts, asking customers and employees at 238 TA and Petro Stopping Centers locations across the U.S. to make $1 and $5 donations.

The St. Christopher Fund, of Knoxville, Tenn., is using the donation as part of its efforts to assist more than 1,600 needy drivers by sharing funds for costs such as rent and mortgage, utilities, auto, medical and prescription, and insurance fees. The charity aids drivers whose medical problems that have occurred within the last two years have led to financial hardship.

"We always look forward to our SCF Band Together campaign, knowing that our yearly contribution goes to helping so many drivers in need. I want to personally thank each and every customer and employee that generously contributed this year," TravelCenters president and CEO Tom O'Brien said in a statement. "We, along with so many professional drivers and their families, are grateful for the SCF. Because of what they do, drivers are able to focus on getting healthy, feeling better and living longer."