This Wednesday, area 7-Eleven stores will give away free slurpees to customers who stop in between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.

The annual giveaway is part of a nationwide “7-Eleven Day” campaign that happens every July 11 (or 7/11), in honor of the franchise’s birthday. 2012 marks the company’s 85th year in business, and the 45th birthday of the Slurpee.

Customers can ask for a free, 7.11-ounce Slurpee at any 7-Eleven location, while supplies last, a release from the convenience store chain said.

"7-Eleven Day, or free Slurpee Day, gets bigger and more popular every year," Joe DePinto, 7-Eleven president and CEO, said in the release. "This year we expect to give away 7 million Slurpee drinks, more than ever before, beating last year's offer by 2 million.”

So, if you are looking for a free way to cool down Wednesday, stop by the 7-Eleven on Hackensack Street in Wood-Ridge, or the 7-Eleven off Summit Avenue on the border of Hackensack and Heights, for a free Slurpee.

Contact the individual store for more details.