#DealershipsGivingBack: Instead of regular donation bins, Bill Colwell Ford opens up the bed of a shiny, F-150 truck to serve Black Hawk County Veterans through their “Fill For 50” event.
The “Fill For 50” is an annual charitable effort that Bill Colwell Ford started in 2015. Over the last seven years, they’ve donated to organizations including Cedar Valley Hospice, the Northeast Iowa Food Bank, Cedar Bend Human Society, House of Hope, Friends of the Family, and Iowa Storm Help in response to last year’s derecho.
General Manager Blake Colwell said, “It always amazes me that the bed of this truck full or overfull, and people are really good about bringing things in.”
Many of Ford’s current employees served in one branch or another of the military, so this year, they decided to keep it “in the family” and help local veterans based out of the Black Hawk County Veteran Affairs.
Ford had asked the veterans office if there was anything in particular the veterans needed aside from food supply. The veterans had personally requested socks, stocking hats, and winter gloves as many of them have fallen on hard times.
“Some of the veterans we work with, their income is a little bit lower and these donations from the community helps fill the need they have,” commented Stacy Albus, County Veterans Service Officer.
Albus says that once they receive the donations from Ford, they will sort all the items into totes and even modify them according to some of the veterans medical needs, case in point if they are diabetic. Then, the totes will either be available for pick up or home delivery.
A veteran could not comment at this time, but on their behalf, Albus said she knows they would want to say ‘thank you’ to both Ford and the community for their contributions.
“They love the support of our community. We’re very fortunate in Black Hawk County, and we have amazing veteran support here,” said Albus.
Bill Colwell Ford will be accepting donations in their showroom until the end of April. They say anyone is welcome to come during business hours to drop off their donations in the bed of the truck, which they will leave on display until it is entirely full and ready to be delivered to the veterans office. General Manager Colwell said to expect a great response from the community as demonstrated in previous years.
“I think you’d be pretty amazed at how many people come in; they just do it because it’s a good thing to do.”
In a month from now, between 75-100 Black Hawk County Veterans will receive a generous donation from Bill Colwell Ford’s, “Fill For 50” event.
For more information, as well as a full list of items Ford is collecting for the “Fill For 50,” CLICK HERE.
Source: Local dealership uses an F-150 truck to serve veterans