Record-breaking meal drive helps fight hunger this holiday season
Records are meant to be broken -- especially when it comes to serving those in need.
On this “Giving Tuesday,” we’re recognizing the servant hearts of our teammates who donate both their money and time towards our bi-annual Hendrick Hunger Hero’s fundraising drive.
After an incredible effort that fundraised more than $1.1 million this past spring, Hendrick Automotive Group followed that up by contributing more than $1.2 million to our partner food banks this fall – a single event donation record!
For 2023, the company contributed more than $2.3 million to its 26 partner food banks throughout the United States. Every holiday meal purchased serves four people and traditionally includes a fresh turkey and nutritious meal items.
Projects like these are a reflection of the company’s people-first culture, built from a foundation Hendrick Automotive Group Chairman and CEO first established at his original Chevrolet dealership in Bennettsville, South Carolina back in 1976.
“I want to thank all of our incredibly generous teammates for donating funds and volunteering time with our food bank partners,” he wrote in the November edition of the companies TeamMates newsletter. “Because of you, families in need throughout our country will now be able to share a meal during this special time of the year. You truly are the heart of our company, and you continue to make me so proud.”
Since 2020, when Hendrick Automotive Group switched to a donation model, the company has raised a combined $5.3 million, feeding an estimated 21.2 million people.
As with any large-scale objective, it takes a lot of teamwork to make it happen. That’s especially true of our partner food banks, who work with each of our teams to purchase the food, set up distribution and make sure the families who need it the most are served.
The money contributed is a combination of teammate fundraising and Hendrick Automotive Group corporate gifts. Funds were raised through five separate donation drives (Spring 2021, 2022 & 2023, Fall 2020, 2021, 2022 & 2023).
This year’s fall meal drive started in September and lasted six weeks.
Thank You Second Harvest Food Bank
As part of the fall drive, more than 3,300 Charlotte-area team members joined the company in donating $385,000(!) to Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina.
Ever since the first Thanksgiving food drive held 23 years ago, the Charlotte-based company has leaned on the team at Second Harvest Food Bank to help build upon the company’s hunger initiatives. As the program has grown from a few hundred meals to serving millions of people, Second Harvest has been their every step of the way.
A heartfelt thank you to the team at Second Harvest Food Bank!
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Charleston Team Celebrates Record Donation for Lowcountry Food Bank
Teammates gathered with their partners from Lowcountry Food Bank to celebrate a record-breaking donation, Nov. 15. As part of this year’s fall donation drive, Hendrick Automotive Group dealerships of Charleston and North Charleston presented its $130,000 contribution, the largest single event donation ever made to the food bank by the Charlotte-based organization.
“We are proud to count Hendrick Automotive Group as a dedicated corporate partner for Lowcountry Food Bank. Today's event is another example of their leadership and philosophy in action of giving back to the community through Hendrick Cares - their corporate social responsibility program that drives a legacy of caring for others and a commitment to teamwork," said Nick Osborne, Lowcountry Food Bank President and CEO. "We are excited to kick off the holiday season of giving today with Hendrick Automotive Group and we appreciate the generous donation of their time and the impact they make in the lives of those we serve."
The meal-packing event was also impactful too, as Charleston-area team members worked with their Lowcountry Food Bank partners to pack meals for 750 Charleston Tri-County families.
This year’s event marked the 10th consecutive year Hendrick Automotive Group has donated both funds and time towards Lowcountry Food Bank’s hunger initiatives. Over that time, the food bank has hosted more than 30 unique activities where teammates have purchased, assembled and distributed more than 800,000 meals to Charleston-area neighbors in need.
Our team is very thankful for the hard work and dedication Lowcountry Food Bank has dedicated for the people of Charleston and the low country.
Teammates Volunteering
Another aspect of Hendrick Automotive Group’s service culture is volunteerism. After donations are collected and food purchased, teammates have the opportunity to participate in meal packing and distribution events.
This past July, Hendrick Automotive Group volunteers gathered at the Charlotte Convention Center to pack 8,000 meals for families in need throughout the metro area. Set up by Second Harvest Food Bank, volunteers packed meals in a multi-lane event that was the largest in company history.
Then in November, another group of Charlotte-area Hendrick Automotive Group volunteers distributed 1,550 fresh turkeys and Thanksgiving meal items to the deserving community surrounding the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Activities League.
This annual event hosted by Charlotte-area community icon Carlenia Ivory, the community services specialist at Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District, former city council member and 2021 MLK “Keeper of the Dream” Award winner, has been a key part of Hendrick Automotive Group’s spring and fall meal distribution for more than a decade.
In addition, before the recent Randy Dorton Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown, engine builders from both Hendrick Automotive Group and Hendrick Motorsports packed 1,000 meal boxes prior to this year’s intense build competition. Taking place on the campus of Hendrick Motorsports, the build teams packed meals in what seemed like record time.
The event was a terrific example of Team Hendrick working together for the good of our neighbors.
A hearty thank you to everyone who participate in Hendrick Automotive Group’s continuing fight against hunger.
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