Rocky Mountain Dodge lends a hand with two August initiatives

Rocky Mountain Dodge is doubling down on community support this August, serving as a drop-off point for two important local fundraisers — one supporting students heading back to school, and another helping to stock the shelves at the Lord’s Food Bank.

Serina Taylor, the dealership’s social media manager, says the team has made it a priority to give back.

“Since taking over social media, it’s just been great to make positive footprints in our community,” says Taylor. “We decided to run two initiatives this month because we know how hard things are right now for a lot of families.”

The first initiative supports the Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter. The focus is on collecting school supplies to help students of all ages in the Rocky Mountain House area start the school year off strong.

“School supplies are something that can be hard for many families to come by, especially new ones,” Taylor said. “There’s nothing worse than walking into school lacking all your necessities and feeling like you’ve failed already.”

Donations of basic classroom items such as notebooks, pens, pencils, loose leaf paper, colouring supplies, and backpacks are all welcome.

The second fundraiser benefits the Lord’s Food Bank, with the dealership accepting non-perishable food donations throughout the month.

“Food is something that’s very hard for many families to come by. It’s not for lack of effort — it’s just where the world is at right now,” Taylor said. “We can make a difference by feeding those bellies.”

Canned meat and vegetables, instant rice, fruit cups, and easy-to-prepare meals like Chef Boyardee are especially appreciated. While the food bank is also in need of perishable items such as poultry and beef, Taylor encourages donors to contact the food bank directly for instructions on how to donate those items.

Both drives are running through Aug. 29, with all donations being distributed locally.

Taylor says the dealership has already started receiving contributions and is hopeful the community will continue to show its generosity.

“I just want to thank the community ahead of time,” she said. “We can make a big impact when we all join hands together.”