This week, Pantone chose the 2021 Color(s) of the Year: Ultimate Gray and Illuminating. For many of us, this year has been more than gray, with dark clouds at every turn. The purpose of this blog is to spread happiness and joy – terms that are often times associated with the color yellow. So, from now on, when you read this blog, I hope you see yellow. Here are five good things that happened in trucking this week.
Nikola raises money for Phoenix Children’s Hospital
During the month of December, Nikola Motor Company is raising money for Phoenix Children’s Hospital to build bikes from scratch and purchase other toys for the children.
As of Dec. 11, Nikola has raised over $38,000 of their $100,000 goal.
Click here to bring hope to patient families at the Phoenix Children’s Hospital today.
Jersey Mike's Subs makes $300,000 challenge grant to Wreaths Across America
This week, Jersey Mike’s Subs has made a $300,000 challenge grant which will help Wreaths Across America (WAA) reach its goal of placing a live balsam veteran’s wreath on every headstone at Arlington National Cemetery. Through Dec. 14, every $15 wreath sponsorship donated here will be matched by the company, up to $300,000.
“Experiencing the placement of a wreath, and knowing the impact that one simple action has for so many, is truly meaningful,” said Peter Cancro, Jersey Mike’s founder and CEO. “The thought of a headstone being left bare is unimaginable and it something we want to help make sure doesn’t happen.”
This year’s national wreath-laying event at Arlington will look different as will many of WAA’s 2,525 other participating locations nationwide, but the mission remains the same. The safety of all involved is the number one priority and WAA is urging the public to follow local guidance and rules set by each location where wreaths are being placed.
“The veterans we honor committed themselves unselfishly at the most critical moments in our nation’s history,” said Karen Worcester, WAA’s executive director. “The generous support of the wonderful people at Jersey Mike’s, ensures that we will be able to fulfill our mission in remembrance of these brave men and women.”
To view updated details for events at Arlington, click here. To find a cemetery near you to support or to learn how local events are being modified for safety in your community click here.
Love’s Travel Stops delivers Operation Homefront’s Meals for the Military
Throughout this year, Operation Homefront has done everything it can to provide military families with what they need to get through the COVID-19 pandemic. This holiday season is no different.
With the help of Love’s Travel Stops, military families lined up at the Love’s corporate headquarters office in Oklahoma, City, Okla. to receive Operation Homefront’s Meals for the Military.
In a tweet on Dec. 10, Operation Homefront said, “We love @LovesTravelStop and their support of our mission and our military families! Thank you #TeamsLoves!”
Truckers Christmas Group exceeds fundraising goal
Truckers Christmas Group, a non-profit organization of truck drivers founded by Wayne Hortman, has raised over $22,000 of its $20,000 fundraising goal for fellow truckers this holiday season.
The Truckers Christmas group began in 2008 by truckers who wanted to help other truck drivers and their families that have fallen on bad times so they could have a better Christmas.
Since its inception, the Christmas Group has raised over $105,000 and has helped 183 trucking families.
Advantage Truck Group’s Haulin’ for the Holiday program provides 6,000 meals
Advantage Truck Group (ATG) will double its commitment to fight food insecurity in New England due to the COVID-19 pandemic through Haulin’ 4 Hunger, its annual program that brings together employees, customers and business sponsors to help provide meals to those in need.
This year, ATG and its Haulin’ 4 Hunger team will increase donations to help provide 6,000 meals and support 12 food pantry organizations in communities near ATG locations throughout the New England area. Since its launch in 2012 and including this year’s donations, Haulin’ 4 Hunger has provided more than 22,000 meals to help fight hunger.
“We are grateful for the continued support that our employees, customers and business partners have for this program and the community of giving it has created in the trucking industry,” said Kevin G. Holmes, President and CEO of ATG. “We appreciate their commitment to helping double our reach by expanding to 12 food pantries, and know their support makes a difference to the most vulnerable members of our communities and to the local nonprofit organizations whose hunger and food insecurity programs are helping those who need it most.”
The 12 food pantry organizations supported by ATG:
- Abby’s House – providing shelter, housing, advocacy and support to women in need
- Fall Mountain Food Shelf – providing emergency food supplies to families and individuals
- Friendly House – providing comprehensive, coordinated neighborhood basic services to inner-city families who are under-served and under-resourced
- Jeremiah’s Inn and Food Pantry – helping adult men live in a safe and sober environment and providing emergency food assistance to individuals and families in need
- Our Community Table Soup Kitchen – serving those in need of a dinner meal and fellowship
- Marlborough Community Cupboard – providing groceries and produce to Marlborough residents
- Rockingham Community Action – providing community services and food pantry
- Raynham Food Basket – providing supplemental food assistance to Raynham residents in need
- South Worcester Neighborhood Center – providing social services to the South Worcester Community with a goal of personal advancement for each individual
- St. Anne’s Human Services – helping individuals in need in the Greater Worcester area through St. Anne’s parish outreach program and food pantry
- St. John’s Food for the Poor Program – helping and reaching out to the poor and hungry
- Veterans Inc. – serving veterans and their families in New England by helping them regain control of their lives to eliminate homelessness
“ATG is committed to continuing our tradition of helping others by fighting food insecurity in the communities where we live and work. During a time when a growing number of people are facing hunger and our local food pantries desperately need our help, our annual Haulin’ 4 Hunger program has allowed us to join with our customers, employees and sponsors in this season of giving to help provide meals to those who need it most,” said Holmes.
