Local nonprofit awarded new Toyota pickup truck

On July 28, Family Promise of Grand Rapids was awarded a new Toyota pickup truck through Toyota’s “100 cars for good” competition. Family Promise was invited to apply for a grant and was later chosen as a finalist along with 500 other nonprofit organizations throughout the United States who work to make a difference in their community.

Family Promise is an organization that focuses on providing shelter and support for homeless families with children as they get back on their feet during times of hardship. They supply permanent housing along with furniture donation services that are necessary when moving into a new home.

Each day for 100 consecutive days between May 14 and August 21, Toyota chooses five agencies to compete in a Facebook votes battle to win a new car or truck. At midnight of the competition day, the organization with the most votes is awarded the new vehicle.

“After I found out that we had won, I just sat back and thought about just how amazing Grand Rapids is,” says Family Promise of Grand Rapids executive director Cheryl Schuch.

At 10 p.m. on July 28, Family Promise- who had been behind Hawks Aloft out of Albuquerque, NM began to pull ahead and later secured the lead. In the end they held 35% of the total votes. Between the two hours, the Grand Rapids nonprofit began doing everything they could to get votes, and as Schuch says, the word “spread like wildfire.” On Saturday night she believed people would be away from their computers and not paying attention, but said she was amazed as individuals stopped to help their local organization.

“It just shows how passionate people are about helping and how much they care about their community. Grand Rapids is a great place to be,” comments Schuch.

Since their van died a year ago, Family Promise has been using personal vehicles and trucks provided by other nonprofit organizations around the area. The new truck will provide an easier way to pick up food from food banks and other donations to supply their pantries. Schuch says the most important function of the new truck will be transporting beds that in the past have been hard to relocate.  

“It’s been really difficult in the past to get beds to the families. Three weeks ago a family moved out and had beds, but we didn’t have any way to get them to their new home,” says Schuch. “We can’t have kids sleeping on the floor.”