An incredible 266 volunteers mobilized in Lexington, South Carolina to assemble nutritious breakfast meals at Southeastern’s headquarters.

“The Southeastern Serves program empowers our associates to give back to their communities and support various essential organizations, such as Harvest Pack and the Harvest Hope Food Bank,” said Tobin Cassels, president at Southeastern Freight Lines. “It’s heartwarming to reflect on the impact Southeastern Serves projects have had across our company’s footprint since the program’s establishment in 2012.”

In the past 10 years, Southeastern associates, family, and friends collaborated to give back in a big way. More than 33 thousand volunteer hours were put into 686 projects from serving meals for struggling families to aiding veteran organizations. Small acts of kindness like these have made all the difference around our community’s most vulnerable populations.

Source: truckersnews

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Pilot Company is actively encouraging healthier, longer lives in its sixth year of supporting the American Heart Association’s Life Is Why campaign. From virtual hands-only CPR training for their 30,000 team members to donating at participating Pilot Flying J and One9 Fuel Network travel centers throughout February – they’re providing ample resources and support towards spreading awareness about heart health safety among everyone.

Throughout February, Flying J travel centers in Canada are extending their support of Heart Month with generous donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Pilot Company’s fundraising initiatives include:

Paper Hearts: $1, $3, and $5 paper hearts will be available for purchase at participating travel centers all of February to benefit American Heart Association in the U.S. and Heart and Stroke Foundation in Canada. 100% of the proceeds will go directly to each organization.

Pin-Pad Round Up or Donation: During February, guests can round up their purchase to the nearest whole dollar or elect to donate other amounts on the pin-pad during checkout to the American Heart Association at participating U.S. travel centers or the Heart & Stroke in participating Canada.

Source: truckersnews

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Trucking companies and organizations nationwide have shared their stores of charitable works and giving with Trucking Moves America Forward (TMAF), the industry-wide education movement. The organization is now sharing just a few of these incredible stories of kindness within the industry.

“The trucking industry is one of service – from delivering the essential goods that keep communities well stocked and supplied throughout the year, to finding ways to give back to their communities during the holiday season,” said Kevin Burch, co-chairman of TMAF and vice president of Government Affairs and Sales at MTS. “TMAF is proud to help tell the story of how the trucking companies and organizations in states across the country give back to the communities they serve.”

Below are some examples of how the trucking industry raised others up this holiday season.

Advantage Truck Group, based in Shrewsbury, MA, marked the 10-year anniversary of their charitable initiative, Haulin’ 4 Hunger, that helps provide meals to people facing hunger in communities near ATG dealerships throughout New England. This year, Haulin’ 4 Hunger increased donations to provide over 4,000 fresh holiday meals in December to food pantry organizations in Central Massachusetts and continued to donate thousands of nonperishable foods each quarter to hunger-relief organizations near other ATG locations. With the support of its employees, customers and business partners, over the past decade, ATG’s Haulin’ 4 Hunger program has donated over 30,000 meals to food pantry organizations across three states to help those in need in its communities.

Averitt Express, based in Cookeville, TN, hosts their employee-giving program, Averitt Cares for Kids, in which more than 94% of associates donate $1 per week. This past year, associates made their largest contribution in the program’s history of $1,050,001 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Associates also participate in Averitt’s Team Up Community Challenge, which serves 140 organizations in nearly 100 communities annually.

Blue Mountain, MS based Big M Transportation employees, family, and partners donated over $30,000 to St. Jude, raising a collective $110,000 over the past few years. Employees participated in the Tippah Toys for Tots, which takes place at the company’s annual Christmas party, as well as multiple blood drives that are held on-site throughout the year. Big M also participated in Wreaths Across America again this year.

Brenny Transportation, Inc., based in St. Joseph, MN, hosted their annual Driven to Serve campaign. With the $7,000 they raised, Brenny purchased gift cards to provide to those in need through a local school’s fundraiser, which doubled their charitable giving. Brenny also donated to a local food shelter and provided a charitable haul by transporting the Christmas tree for their town’s WinterWalk festival.

Joplin, MO-based CFI gave back to their community through several charitable initiatives, including support for local charities and Wreaths Across America. CFI also hosted its 29th annual Truckloads of Treasures fundraiser, which raised $41,000 this year. In total, the fundraiser has raised a total of $1,001,000 to date to support communities around CFI in the U.S., Mexico and Canada during the holidays.

Conversion Interactive Agency, based in Brentwood, TN, held its annual food drive to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. Conversion employees donated and transported 1,505 items to a partner collection site to be distributed to people in need across Middle Tennessee.

Dave and Lori Widly, owners of DriverFacts, based in Anaheim, CA, assisted flood victims in the hardest hit counties of Kentucky. They built wheelchair ramps, replaced sub-floors and roofs with a team of parents and students from Orange Lutheran High School.

Northfield Trucking Co, Inc. based in Romulus, MI, organized an Annual Trunk or Treat, which was widely attended by the community and drew over 300 children from neighboring cities. Northfield Trucking & Associates donated toothbrushes, water, chips, candy, snow cones and chocolates to celebrate Halloween and help those families in need.

Knoxville, TN-based Pilot Company, a veteran-founded company extended its long tradition of supporting Wreaths Across America’s Escort to Arlington and partnering with TCA to celebrate and honor veterans in the trucking industry by sponsoring the Appreciation Dinner held in Arlington, VA ahead of the laying of the wreaths ceremony.

SH 130 Concession Company, based in Central Texas, partnered with the Caldwell County Sheriff Department’s Brown Santa program and collected over 150 toys, games and books for area families that need a little extra help this holiday season.

The Rhode Island Trucking Association co-hosted Rhode Island’s first Torch Run Truck Convoy® for Special Olympics along with the Special Olympics Rhode Island and various municipal and state enforcement agencies. Nearly fifty trucks from over thirty trucking companies took part; the event raised over $13k for Rhode Island Special Olympics athletes to enable them to train and compete free of charge.

The Texas Trucking Association (TXTA)’s Emerging Leaders Council (ELC) hosted their annual toy drive for Toys for Tots. The kickoff of the toy drive takes place at their fall meeting each year where the membership is encouraged to host toy drives across the state; a marine also addresses the ELC to share about ways to get involved.

Trailiner, based in Springfield, MO, participated in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks Bowl for Kids’ Sake Truckers Challenge and raised the largest sum of money – $4,000 – of participating truckers for the second year in a row. Trailiner also participated in several other charitable acts, including a partnership with Ozarks Food Harvest, and sponsorships for the Ronald McDonald House of the Ozarks and the Jeepin for a Cure event to benefit the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks. Employees also worked with the Department of Social Services to support children in the foster system and donated items in need to ensure they have a happy Christmas.

Trucking Angels for Christ, Inc., a nonprofit whose mission is to minister to women and provides free bibles and services, partnered with Teddy’s Angels to help children that have terminal illnesses for Christmas.

Wabash, based in Lafayette, IN, partnered with agencies across the country to give back to its communities. Wabash donated over $500,000 in charitable giving and thousands of volunteer hours from employees with a focus on fighting hunger and supporting children and veterans. In addition to local initiatives, Wabash established a new partnership with Feeding America in 2022 as an ongoing commitment to help end hunger on a national scale. To celebrate this partnership, Wabash hosted employee volunteer events at local food pantries monthly and organized a company-wide Drive Away Hunger food drive. With their business partners’ support, Wabash filled 1,000 backpacks with food for children in need during their Ignite conference in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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One thing that has always been important to the company is maintaining a sense of family within the walls of their trucking company based in Springfield, Massachusetts which employs 20 people. The company managed to continue this family atmosphere even as they expanded to another office in Miami with 2 additional team members.

Another important constant here is the company’s commitment to giving back to children through the annual Toy for Joy campaign.

The drive is now in its 100^th year, and its longevity helps donors like All States Transport have full trust that their donation dollars are going to a good cause and brightening the holidays for children in need.

This year, the firm donated a generous $7,500 to the annual campaign. “This [ability to contribute] is the result of a lot of hard work by a lot of people,” said owner William “Billy” Kingston.

The entire team is part of an All States annual contribution, which has more than tripled in the last few years. “It’s the AST family. It’s just what we are,” he said.

“Bill Kingston reached out several weeks before we even launched this year’s campaign to let us know his team would be remembering Toy for Joy again this year,” said Cynthia Simison, executive editor of The Republican. “Little did we know there would be a gift this significant. All States and the Kingston family truly wowed our Toy for Joy team with their generosity.”

According to Simison, All States is among one of many organizations in the region that have established long-standing support of Toy for Joy. “With 100 years of history, I think people know they can trust Toy for Joy to ensure their contributions reach families in need,” she said.

“The phrase about the importance of giving back may seem overused, but it’s so critical,” said Kingston. “That’s especially true, given what people have gone through in the past three years — a pandemic, uncertainty, inflation, political issues and the pressure people are under constantly. Who pays for it? Often, it’s the children, who have had nothing to do with it.”

“We are so pleased to be able to contribute and support the children in our region,” he said.

This year is a historic one for the Toy for Joy campaign, marking its 1000^th year of providing toys and books to thousands of children in Western Massachusetts through the generosity of the region’s residents, school children, civic groups, businesses, and other individuals and organizations.

That campaign goal this year is to reach $150,000 by Christmas Eve.

Toy for Joy is a collaborative effort by the Salvation Army with The Republican, El Pueblo Latino and MassLive, along with media partners at Reminders Publishing and The Westfield News. Salvation Army units in Springfield, Holyoke and Greenfield distribute toys and books to families in Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties. Toy for Joy serves children age 16 and younger.

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“It was a perfect opportunity to support one of our communities and demonstrate our values,” Leonard’s Express Chief Financial Officer Kyle Johnson said. “We delivered swing sets, slides, merry go rounds, buddy benches — pretty much everything on the playground except the concrete and mulch.” The playground, dubbed the Dream Big campaign, was created for people of all abilities to enjoy in Western New York.

The effort was led by Mike and Nanci Bentley of the Inclusion in Motion project, with assistance from dozens of community partners. Visitors from the Rochester and Finger Lakes region are said to have flocked to the new outdoor space.

“Over the summer, four to six busloads of visitors came to the playground each week, including Cub Scout troops, school districts, church groups, nonprofit organizations and families and friends, all joining to create lasting memories of generations playing together,” Nanci Bentley said. “We have quickly become a popular destination for schools, adult agencies and even other municipalities to visit. Without the community’s support and the backing of donors like Leonard’s Express, this playground would not be where it is today. We couldn’t have done it by ourselves.”

Leonard’s Express got involved after another trucking company failed to keep its promise to transport the playground’s surfacing from Pennsylvania. “Leonard’s Express is proud to participate in transforming Inclusion in Motion’s big dream into a reality,” he said. “At Leonard’s Express, philanthropic activities are central to our culture and help define us as a company and as a great place to work.”

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She included a note that said, “My husband was still driving until 2-10-22. He died 2-12-2022. He is proud of you. Keep trucking.”

Las Vegas trucker Steven Phillips received this special gift and stated that driving in the convoy was pretty indescribable and that the gift added a whole new level.  He said, “It means a lot to have him riding in the seat next to me.  I’ll do him proud.”

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Dominic Zastarskis, CEO of GP Transco, stated, “The people of Ukraine are currently in dire need of assistance, and we want to do everything in our power to bring humanitarian aid to them.” TLPU is urging more trucking and logistics companies to participate.

The Following companies contributed over $10,000 each. 

• GP Transco
• Unlimited Carrier
• Arka Express
• Brite Logistics
• GTS Transportation
• KGZ Transport
• Highboost Corp.
• HMD Trucking Inc.
• Cadence Premier Logistics
• MB Global Logistics
• Artur Express
• NFI
• Fleet Advantage
• CarriersEdge
• Pilot Flying J
• Bond Transit

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