Stratford Honda is driving the community to shop local

Stratford Honda is driving the community to donate to Stratford House of Blessing. Pictured, from left, are Harper Jones, Janet Keen, Deanna Oliphant, Ciara Hanley, Sally Bryant and Stefanie Walpole.

From Nov. 15 to Dec. 13, everyone who comes to Stratford Honda and donates will get a chance at winning a $100 gift card for local businesses, including Stratford Honda.

The Drive our Community to Shop Local campaign is in its fifth year and has a repeat goal of raising over $10,000 for Stratford House of Blessing.

“The owner’s passion was for the House of Blessing,” said Janet Keen, marketing specialist with Stratford Honda. “So, we decided on the food drive. Then I came up with ‘drive’ because of the auto industry.”

Every person who makes a monetary or food donation will be entered into the prize draw for one of 10 $100 gift cards and offered a spin at the wheel to win bonus entries.

“The goal is to fill one of our Hondas,” said Keen. “It started way back, five years ago, and it’s just grown; it’s been amazing.”

Donations can be made by bringing in cash, cheque or non-perishable food items directly to Stratford Honda. Cash donations can also be made via the Stratford Honda website, directly to House of Blessing or through their website, and by following the QR code included with Stratford Honda’s communications. Those who donate will receive a tax receipt for all monetary donations.

“We’re going to try and fundraise as best we can by reaching out to the community,” said Keen. “I know there’s a lot of donation asking, but we’ve been actually so successful with our customers, even the community. I’ve had, just by running in (the Stratford Times), people come in that were from New Hamburg saying, ‘Yeah, I saw your ad, so I came in to donate.’ ”

Each donation makes a difference. House of Blessing is in need of crackers, cookies, side dishes (Sidekicks, Hamburg Helper), soup, canned ham, chicken and salmon, canned vegetables, peanut butter, kids school snacks, rice and cash donations.

If possible, grab a non-perishable and drop by Stratford Honda to do some good this holiday season and spin the wheel!