Raymond Auto Group donates cargo van to Open Arms Mission

Antioch-based Raymond Auto Group covered $20,000 toward a 2020 Chevrolet Express Cargo van for local food pantry Open Arms Mission.

Open Arms Mission recently received $20,000 from the Lake Cares "Unmet Needs" grant and the dealership jumped at the opportunity to cover the remaining $20,000.

Open Arms Mission provides daily living necessities - such as food and toiletries - to individuals and families in need while encouraging self-sufficiency. The food pantry has remained open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to continue to serve its community, making health and safety adjustments such as offering a drive-through distribution to eliminate indoor, face-to-face contact.

Since last spring, Open Arms Mission has actually distributed more food - especially to families with children - in an effort to ease food insecurities during the pandemic.

"Raymond Auto Group has served Antioch and surrounding towns for 60 years, and is committed to being there when our community needs a little help," said Mark Scarpelli, president of Raymond Auto Group. "This case is no exception."

Raymond Auto Group has partnered with Open Arms Mission for the last decade on various projects to help those in need within the Antioch community.

"Our philosophy has always been neighbor helping neighbor, and we feel blessed that Raymond Auto Group stepped up to help us meet the needs of community members who are food insecure," Open Arms Mission Executive Director Marytherese Ambacher said.

"The van will be utilized to pick up reclaimed food and donations from local grocery stores, as well as to deliver food to homebound neighbors."

The Chicago Automobile Trade Association - the area's new car dealer association - has been a longtime supporter of local nonprofit organizations. The CATA has donated more than $100,000 to local charitable organizations through its Chicagoland Dealers Care program, launched by Scarpelli in 2008 when he was chairman of the CATA.

The Chicagoland Dealers Care program helps expand on CATA members' donations and shine a spotlight on new car dealers' positive impact within their communities.

For more information on Raymond Auto Group and the CATA, visit RaymondDeals.com and CATA.info, respectively. To learn more about Open Arms Mission, visit OpenArmsMission.org.