By Robert Williams

Editor

The Becker County Food Pantry received a sizable donation from R&G Subaru of Detroit Lakes as part of Subaru of America’s 2023 Subaru Share the Love® Event.

The event has contributed a total of $288 million in donations over the past 16 years. Last year, the initiative raised $31.6 million overall for charities nationwide, with Subaru and its retailers donating over $24 million to local organizations through the hometown charity portion of the campaign.

Locally, R&G Subaru donated a total of $38,500 to the Becker County Food Pantry on Thursday, May 9. Sales Manager Drew Larson and Service Manager Matt Field were on hand with the Food Pantry’s Board of Directors President Dale Storey, new Pantry Manager Alissa Mork and other volunteers to deliver the check.

According to Larson, R&G Subaru has contributed a total of over $218,000, since the start of the share the love event.

“We have the best customers ever, and this all comes back to their continued loyalty over the past 46 years,” Larson said.

Portions of each service ticket and car sales are used to fund the donation and that amount is matched by R&G. This year’s donation was one of the company’s largest after R&G increased their match percentage this year.

In 2023, all Subaru retailers across the U.S. participated in the annual Share the Love Event, demonstrating their commitment to being “More Than a Car Dealer.” Customers purchasing or leasing during the campaign period could choose one of four national charity partners or a local hometown charity of the retailer’s choice to receive donations. 

The overwhelming majority of donations, over three-quarters, went to local charitable organizations, with more than $24 million being donated to over 830 hometown charities close to Subaru owners’ hearts.

The mission of the Becker County Food Pantry is to serve Becker County residents in need with programs that provide food, promote the value of nutrition, and make connections to community resources to ensure a meaningful impact to our community’s wellbeing. 

The pantry moved into a new building in October 2023, at 610 Terry Street, in Detroit Lakes. The new site offers many improvements, including more storage space, handicap accessibility, and an improved client experience. In 2023, the Pantry distributed 467,828 pounds of food and supplies with 5,460 household visits—the most in the organization’s history. The year 2024 is on track to exceed that record: In April alone, the Pantry served 556 households, for a total of 1,758 individuals. This is 23 percent higher than the number of individuals served in April 2023. 

“Here at Subaru, our commitment to community is all about showing love and support in ways that make a meaningful difference,” said Jeff Walters, President and Chief Operating Officer, Subaru of America, Inc. “This year, Subaru retailers and customers demonstrated their dedication by donating a record amount to local and national organizations. Subaru is truly More Than a Car Company, and we’re incredibly grateful to our retailers and customers who share our values and helped make the 2023 Share the Love Event a tremendous success.”

Since 2008, Subaru of America and its retailers have held the Share the Love Event at the end of the year through the holiday season to give back to charities in the communities Subaru retailers know and love. 

From November 16, 2023, through January 2, 2024, for any new vehicle purchased or leased at every retailer around the country, Subaru and its retailers donated a minimum of $300 to charity. Subaru has a longstanding relationship with national charity partners, including The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®), Make-A-Wish®, Meals on Wheels America, and the National Park Foundation, who collectively received over $7 million in donations. 

Subaru and its retailers nationwide selected 832 hometown charities within their local communities, and overall, these organizations received a record $24 million in contributions.

For more information on the Subaru Share the Love Event, please visit www.subaru.com/share.

Subaru and its retailers are committed to helping their communities through the Subaru Love Promise. To learn more about the Love Promise initiative, please visit www.subaru.com/love-Promise.