Wilhelm Automotive Food Drive & Community Involvement
Drive Brings in Hundreds of Pounds of Food for Those in Need
Wilhelm Automotive, a Valley family-owned and operated automotive repair shop, hosted it 18th annual holiday food drive this past November. This year Wilhelm combined its efforts to support not only people, but pets too. Patrons generously donated food at Wilhelm locations to benefit the Foothills Food Bank and Resource Center and Valley View Community Food Bank as well as Chuck Waggin’ Pet Food Pantry. More than 300 pounds of human food and about 75 pounds of pet food were donated by Wilhelm customers this year.
The Foothills Food Bank and Resource Center provides emergency food, financial assistance and other life necessities and resources to individuals and families in the northern desert foothills communities. The mission of the Valley View Community Food Bank is to serve the Northwest Valley communities with love and respect for those who are in need of a good and wholesome nutritious food box.
The main purpose of the Chuck Waggin’ pet food pantry is to provide pet and pet service referrals to keep pets and the families who love them together.
Those who donated were rewarded with a discount coupon for a future auto repair visit at Wilhelm.
“We’re so grateful to our wonderful customers and community for their continued support of our efforts to reach out to those in need during the holiday season. Their kindness is a reflection of the kind of company values Wilhelm has always represented.” said Wilhelm President Chris Garman.
Giving Back To Our Community
Since 1979, the company has expanded to include locations in Litchfield Park, Tatum Ranch, Surprise and Goodyear. Community service comes naturally to all Wilhelm employees no matter which location is involved.
Community involvement has always been a part of the Wilhelm tradition. To date, we are involved in our local neighborhoods supporting groups such as Westside Food Bank, Cave Creek Museum, International Rotary, Luke Air Force Base, American Cancer Society and local schools. Charley and Thomas Gyder have been very active in the revitalization of the downtown area of Peoria. The presence of the new arts center, a first rate performance venue that they were instrumental in making a reality, is testimony to their dedication to the community.
“When you integrate your family into the community, it all fits, it all flows.” Thom Gyder said, “It’s not something we do as an obligation, it’s something we love to do.”
Each of Wilhelm Auto’s service centers submit an annual community service report card to ensure that the company maintains its position of philanthropic leadership in the automotive service industry in Arizona.
If you are interested in supporting local non-profit organizations, may we suggest you visit the following sites of organizations we actively support:
- Theater Works
- North Valley Relay for Life (American Cancer Society)
- Cave Creek Museum
- Carefree-Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce
- Peoria Chamber of Commerce
- Northwest Valley Chamber of Commerce
- Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce
- Westside Food Bank
- Rotary District 5490
- Peoria Diamond Club
- Habitat for Humanity West Valley
- Leadership West
- Fighter Country Partnership