Bensenville’s Grand Subaru donates over 500 new coats, shoes to children in need

Grand Subaru joined forces with Operation Warm and We Pop Up on Feb. 8 to donate more than 500 new winter coats, shoes and socks during a gifting event for local children experiencing urgent need situations. Volunteers at the event helped fit children for the new clothing items in their favorite color during a free and engaging shopping experience.

Grand Subaru made the apparel donation as part of Subaru Loves to Help, a national initiative championed by Subaru of America, Inc. that helps share comfort, hope and confidence with children and adults experiencing homelessness and urgent-need situations.

“We know there are many children in our area experiencing homelessness or other urgent need situations, so it is important that we lend a helping hand to our community,” said Ryan Drouin, general manager of Grand Subaru. “The Subaru Loves to Help initiative is one of the many ways Grand Subaru gives back throughout the year, and we’re grateful to partner with We Pop Up and Operation Warm to provide meaningful warmth and comfort to those who need it most.”

Millions of adults and children are experiencing homelessness and urgent-need situations, including many in the greater Chicago community. Essential clothing items keep children protected, warm and dry in addition to supporting a child’s mental and emotional well-being.

“We Pop Up, and the families we help, are grateful to Grand Subaru for their generous donations of coats and shoes,” said Emily Bastedo, co-founder of We Pop Up. “The timing could not have been better for them to distribute these much-needed items.”

This is the first year Grand Subaru has partnered with We Pop Up and Operation Warm. It is part of their year-round commitment to support the community, known as the Subaru Love Promise, including local partnerships with Animal Rescue Foundation of Illinois, Elmhurst Hospital, Village of Bensenville and more.

The retailer also recently held a food drive in the community to hand out free turkeys to families in need during the holiday season.

Through this new partnership with Operation Warm and other historical Subaru Loves to Help efforts, Subaru and its retailers will help more than 750,000 children and adults in urgent need by the end of this year’s campaign.

This winter, Grand Subaru is one of more than 630 Subaru retailers across the country providing much-needed clothing items to support their communities.

“Coats, shoes, and socks provide so much more than just physical warmth, and programs like this are giving kids in urgent need the relief and confidence to socialize and succeed,” said Grace Sica, executive director of Operation Warm. “Teaming up with Subaru, who clearly shares our values of community connection, allows us to bring warmth and confidence to even more children around the country than ever before.”

For information about Subaru Loves to Help and to find out more about Subaru’s work in the community, visit subaru.com/help and follow #SubaruLovestoHelp on social media.

To learn more about Operation Warm, visit operationwarm.org.