A Great Success – the 2009 Carland Food Drive
It has been a tough year for most people ! 401ks, housing market, unemployment, and a 6 and 6 season for FSU. This year allowed many of us to look around, and truly be thankful to hang on to what we have. Mike Hearing started as a sales consultant at Honda Carland in Roswell about 9 years ago. We all have meant the “Salt of the Earth” types, and Mike is one of those. Every year he would go buy bins and ask all the employees to bring in canned good items in November and toys in December. Mr Hearing would always buy at least 20 bikes and a truck load of turkeys - every year. This year we wanted to really make a difference! We all did and we all enjoyed giving.
This year was different, we really wanted to help out the families that have been struggling, we wanted to help make that Thanksgiving Day warmer, and that Christmas Morning more exciting. Bill Hughes the General Manager of the Carland Group wanted to have a customer appreciation night, and raffle off some prizes to help gain attendance. We all instantly wanted to make Hearing’s Food and Toy drive a part of this , so Mr Hughes decided to advertise to our customers to bring in canned food items in November and Toy Items in December. We would issue a raffle ticket for each food or toy item. Bill Hughes, Scott Henley, Kyle Campbell, and Keith Campbell agreed to provide 32′ Flat Screens for each event (6) on top of catering and other costs. We call some of our vendors like Cars.com, Autotrader, and Aspen Marketing, and they all donated prizes to help make these event enticing to our customers.
It was a complete success. Honda Carland, Honda Carland North, and Acura Carland brought over 3,000 canned good items for the food drive. Mike Hearing personally donated over 30 turkeys again! These events were never about the raffle- it was about the food drive, and the Carland Group was able to create a frenzy of giving! We had customers donating cases upon cases of food. Several customers made cash donations, and others returned several days later with more food. They all got it- it was about making a difference in someone else’s life! The customers are the ones that made the true difference, by coming out on a weekday night, and particpating in an event that helped others that they did not even know! Thank you, and we truly appreciate the opportunity of meeting and talking with each of you!
So, we have 3 more events scheduled – these will all conincide with the 9th Annual Carland Toy Drive! Same premise, bring in unwrapped toys, and we will issue you one ticket for each toy! The Carland Group will sponsor prizes ranging up to a 32″ Flat Screen TV, catering, and other service promotions. It is important for as many people to come and partipate! Please tell one and tell all! The kids will appreciate it . Have a wonderful Holiday Season, and please try to attend one of the following events!
Acura Carland – Customer Appreciation -Acura ZDX Launch Party- 9th Annual Carland Toy Drive- December 17th, Thursday 7:00 PM Please click to RSVP!
Honda Carland-Customer Appreciation -Accord Crosstour Launch Party- 9th Annual Carland Toy Drive- December 16th, Wednesday, 7:00 PM, Please click to RSVP!
Honda Carland North- Customer Appreciation -Accord Crosstour Launch Party- 9th Annual Carland Toy Drive- December 15th, Tuseday, 6:15 PM, Please click to RSVP!
We hope to see you, please email me with any questions!