Car dealerships team up to help storm victims
Published 3:18 am Saturday, October 20, 2018
Walt Massey Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram-Nissan and Andalusia Ford teamed up with RCA Trucking, LLC this week t deliver more than $5,000 worth of supplies to victims of Hurricane Michael in the Fountain, Fla. , area.
“There is a common misconception that we are competitors,” Alan Lindsey of Andalusia Ford said. “So we took this as an opportunity to show people that competitors can come together toward a common good. I called Steven from Massey and I didn’t even get the words out of my mouth and he was already saying it was a good idea.”
The group decided to go take their supplies to Fountain, Fla., after connecting with a coordinator for the Cajun Navy.
“We have a connection with Jeanine Roberts, who is with the Cajun Navy,” Lindsey said. “She is our ‘boots on the ground,’ girl and she has been helping out a lot. We decided to take our supplies to Fountain because it reminded me a lot of our area here. It is very underserved and we need to help these people out.”
Lindsey said that the support from the Covington County community has been overwhelming.
“We are absolutely overwhelmed by the support of the community,” Lindsey said. “Business owners have been so gracious and people have really stepped up, I mean we had to get another trailer full of items because we already filled up an 18-wheeler.”
Several Andalusia businesses have rallied together to donate items to the Walt Massey and Andalusia Ford cause including Andalusia Health donating 150 cases of diapers, Mr. Mattress donating 20 mattresses and box springs, Dr. Troy Jones, Forestry Supply donating chainsaw oil, Fletcher’s Outdoors donating coolers, ice and a pallet of Gatorade, Covington Heavy Duty donating oil, David’s Catfish donating all of the paper plates for the meal they are preparing to serve, and Piggly Wiggly providing 1,500 hamburgers, hotdogs and buns and 307 cases of water. Several other companies donated as well.
While the team is in Fountain, they also will cook the 1,500 hamburgers and hotdogs for hurricane victims.
“These people haven’t eaten in days,” Lindsey said. “They need a hot meal so we are going to provide that for them. We are also preparing to help with distributing all of our supplies and help clean up around the area.”
The group departed from Andalusia Ford yesterday and will be in Fountain until Sunday when they cook for the victims.
Lindsey said that they will continue to accept donations when they return from Fountain.