Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers announce Truckloads of Hope, an effort to support Capuchin Soup Kitchen

38 dealer locations accepting shower supplies and personal essentials in March donation drive

DETROIT - Driving home the importance of helping those in need, the Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers Association (MDCD) announced it will again provide support to the Capuchin Soup Kitchen’s Services Center through its annual “Truckloads of Hope” campaign. Through the month of March, each of the 38 MDCD locations will be collecting shower, hygiene, and other personal essentials for use by those who visit the Capuchin Soup Kitchen’s food pantry, as well as homeless guests who participate in the organization’s shower program.

Last year’s event was impacted by the onset of the pandemic, but MDCD still gathered thousands of items. For the 2021 collection drive, local Chevy dealers will use Silverado truck replica donation boxes in lieu of truck bed displays, but the donations will again be presented to the Capuchins with an impressive Chevy caravan of 38 Chevrolet trucks or SUV’s. John Fox, President of the MDCD, spoke enthusiastically about this year’s Truckloads of Hope campaign.

“After the 2020 pivot, our Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers are really looking forward to delivering hope—with the goal of filling the equivalent of 38 Chevy Silverado truck beds—to the Capuchin Soup Kitchen this year,” Fox said. “COVID-19 has changed our lives in so many ways, but it’s been especially difficult for those who already struggled financially on a daily basis. Through Truckloads of Hope, we are continuing our Chevy Detroit tradition of supporting the meaningful services the Capuchin Organization provides, and our dealer members, the public who visit our showrooms, and our employees wholeheartedly get involved in this community-wide effort.”

One of seven Capuchin Soup Kitchen Programs, the Capuchin Services Center traditionally assists 228,000 tens of thousands Detroit neighbors annually with emergency food, clothing, and household supplies like bedding and laundry essentials. Truckloads of Hope donations will also assist, in particular, the Capuchin Soup Kitchen's Meldrum site location which has adapted its shower program due to the pandemic through the use of a mobile trailer 3-station shower unit—housed in the parking lot—to provide homeless guests with a warm shower, hygiene products, and fresh clothing. place to wash up one time per week and launder their clothing. It has been serving about X people each week.

Br. Jerry Johnson, Capuchin Soup Kitchen executive director, concurred that the pandemic has created unique circumstances that have driven a greater need for assistance with homelessness and unstable housing, mental illness, and substance use disorder.

“Donations from Truckloads of Hope can make all the difference in people’s daily lives and is such a blessing for the our Capuchin Services Center and for our shower program,” Br. Jerry acknowledged. “Household supplies and hygiene items are expensive, and many of our guests have difficulty affording these necessities. This event always provides a tremendous boost to our efforts. We're very thankful for the many good people who purchase items and come out to the Metro Detroit Chevy dealership sites to donate. True to our charism created carried forward in 1929 by our Capuchin Soup Kitchen co-founder, Blessed Solanus Casey, this aid is truly a blessing for our guests.”

Visitors to Metro Detroit Chevy Dealer showrooms are invited to place their donations in the collection bins stationed near front entrances between March 1–31. The following new items are most in need:

• Sheets (Full and Twin sizes)
• Blankets (Full and Twin sizes)
• Laundry Detergent (42 oz. or 64 oz.)
• Dryer Sheets
• Hand and Bath Towels
• Travel Shaving Cream
• Travel Hand Sanitizer
• Disposable Razors
• Soap
• Shampoo
• Toothbrushes
• Toothpaste
• Baby Wipes
• Socks
• Underwear

“The Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers, just like Chevy vehicles, are known for their dependability in taking the lead in goodwill efforts in and around Metro Detroit,” Fox said. “With Truckloads of Hope, we encourage everyone to get involved by dropping off a donation or two and joining us in support of the Capuchin Soup Kitchen mission and outreach.”

About the Capuchin Soup Kitchen

Founded in 1929, the Capuchin Soup Kitchen serves Metro Detroit by providing food, clothing, and human development programs to the people of our community. Through its programs, the Capuchin Soup Kitchen addresses the needs of thousands of families and individuals each day. Capuchin Soup Kitchen programs include:

• Two meal program sites – serving three daily sit-down and take-away meals, six days per week
• Shower Program – providing hygiene and clean clothes year-round
• Capuchin Services Center – an emergency food pantry and clothing distribution center
• Chaplains and Emergency Assistance Social Workers – Assisting with longer-term goals
• Rosa Parks Children’s Program – providing art programs and tutoring for youth
• Earthworks Urban Farm – a 1.5-acre USDA-certified organic farm supplying Capuchin Soup Kitchen meal sites and educating the community on building sustainable relationships with the earth
• On the Rise Bakery – assisting individuals re-entering society after bouts of incarceration or substance abuse
• Jefferson House – a twelve bed residential treatment facility, assists indigent males seeking to reclaim their lives from addiction

The Capuchin Soup Kitchen is a ministry of the Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Joseph which is headquartered in Detroit. For more information, visit www.cskdetroit.org.

About Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers (MCDC)

The Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers Local Marketing Association (LMA) is comprised of 38 Chevrolet dealerships in Southeastern Michigan. It is the MDCD mission to take an active role in our local communities and are proud to have helped hundreds of thousands of Metro Detroiters by hosting donation drives and supporting local nonprofits, sports teams, restaurants, businesses, musicians, and artists. We also feature local events, venues, scenery, music, and people in our marketing campaigns. For a complete listing of the 38 Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers and other information please visit chevydetroit.com.

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SOURCE: Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers