Emergency response and fleet vehicles are essential to Red Cross disaster relief operations. As disaster strikes, whether a hurricane, tornado or a home fire, Red Cross responders climb into emergency response vehicles to travel to affected areas, to provide food, water, relief supplies and comfort to people in need.
When Manheim Pennsylvania (Auto Auction) discovered its local chapter needed a Disaster Relief Vehicle for use throughout the central Pennsylvania region, the team was determined to provide it.
Through dealer donations, a raffle, a donation from Carlisle Productions and a pledge from Cox Automotive, the team raised more than $30,000 to purchase a 2017 Ford Explorer 4x4, which was presented to Jennifer Wiggin, major gifts officer of the Central Pennsylvania Region on February 14th at the Manheim Pennsylvania auction. The vehicle will live at the Lancaster office of the American Red Cross and is ready to be deployed upon need.
“Our team has supported our Red Cross Chapter for some time, so we rallied around efforts to equip them with a disaster relief vehicle,” said VP and GM Joey Hughes. “The Red Cross goes where no one else can and we are honored to, in a small way, help them get there.”
Manheim team members across the organization also mobilized in support of parent company Cox Automotive's national partnership with the American Red Cross when it was announced last year. In many cases, Manheim operating locations throughout the United States had already been supporting their local Red Cross chapters.
During the first year of partnership Cox Automotive team members have provided:
• 4,675 Comfort Kits & Fire Preparedness Bags
• 965 Pints of Blood Donated
• 1,087 Team Member and Family Volunteers
• 2,050 Cards Written to Veterans
• 825 Teddy Bears Built
• 2,345 Volunteer Hours
• $307,194 Corporate and Team Member donations
