The ARA Foundation and Toro Team Up for Community Impact Project
The American Rental Association (ARA) Foundation and The Toro Company Foundation recently partnered up for a good cause. These two foundations donated equipment and volunteers to clean up and transform the seven-acre property of the Youth Crisis Center (YCC) in Jacksonville, Fla., on April 30th.
Since 1974, YCC has provided a variety of services for children, adolescents, young adults, parents and families. The center places an emphasis on care for those who have been exposed to traumatic situations such as divorce, homelessness, relocation, loss of life, bullying and abuse. According to the press release, this is just one of the many ARA Foundation Community Impact Programs that take place across the country to improve communities in which ARA members live.
For this particular project, volunteers and equipment from The Toro Company, Ditch Witch, Ditch Witch of Florida, All About Events, Sunshine Event Rentals, LLC, Jamco Equipment Rental, Marketing Concepts, Rentalex (Tampa), Elite Events Rentals, Do It Yourself Inc., K.W.I. Grand Rental, Parker Sales & Marketing, CVS Marketing/McGovern Associates and Ames, and H&E Rentals joined forces — and kept very busy. They installed a drainage trench, removed shrubs and planted a variety of foliage to beautify the landscape of this large property.
“We are greatly appreciative of this project,” said Pete Hicks, chief development officer at Youth Crisis Center. “Beautification of our shelter helps with the therapeutic care we are able to offer youths and families. We have a lot of kids that come here to get help and when they see a welcoming place it really makes an impact. ARA has done a tremendous job negotiating our seven acres of property to create this beautiful landscape and it really helps our organization so that we can spend more funds directly serving the kids.”
Additional Support from The ARA Foundation
The ARA Foundation also donated a $20,000 grant to the YCC to support the expenses associated with the project. Cathy Hurst, a YCC board member, said: “Volunteers have come from all over the country for this wonderful project today. There are people everywhere. You can hear the machines behind me as they get started. They are moving rocks and mulch. There are over 600 plants and trees being used to beautify the YCC property. We have young people that come here for therapy. There are residents that live here. It’s just incredible the work that they do here and I’m honored to be on their board and be a part of this activity today.”
Pam Kleineke is managing editor of Compact Equipment.
