CARSTAR Business Owners across North America Give Back

Community First: CARSTAR Business Owners across North America Give Back to Those in Need

CARSTAR, North America’s premier network of independently owned collision repair facilities, is commending its team members and franchise owners’ commitment to its communities in the face of a worldwide pandemic. Efforts to date have totaled over 1,000 pieces of medical supplies donated to hospitals, over 1,000lbs of food donated to local shelters and hundreds of homemade masks made for team members.

The Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recognized the auto repair and maintenance industry as an essential service, per its “Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce” list in the United States. Similarly, in Canada, provinces across the country have deemed this line of work as essential. This means that CARSTAR’s over 700 centers across the United States and Canada remain open and dedicated to their roles within their communities.

“Every day our team members, franchisees and those other crucial front line workers across industries make sacrifices to serve their larger communities through this COVID-19 epidemic,” says Michael Macaluso, Paint, Collision & Glass Group President, Driven Brands. “Not only have we pivoted our business to provide contactless options, but an overwhelming amount of our franchisees and team members have been going above and beyond to help those who need it most right now.”

Inspired by the organic generosity sprouting within the organization, CARSTAR has also committed to donating $10,000 to the Atrium Health Foundation in Charlotte, N.C. and $10,000 to the St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation in Hamilton, ON. This $20,000 donation is in honor of the CARSTAR facilities and in the respective regions of the U.S. and Canadian CARSTAR head offices.

“This is about celebrating all of the compassion coming out of a time that has created unprecedented challenges for our world,” continues Macaluso. “It is important in times like these to recognize all of the singular individuals, raising the collective disposition in communities across North America.”

Highlighted below, are just a few examples of the generosity exhibited by the CARSTAR franchisee family, showing their commitment to their communities.

Thanking Healthcare Workers

CARSTAR Hamlin in Rochester Hills, Michigan, was able to source as many N95 masks as they could, to donate to their local hospital. Beaumont Hospital in Troy, is like many other hospitals across the world, facing a shortage of these essential materials used to keep healthcare workers safe.

CARSTAR Wally’s owner, Sherri Slater, originally bought the dinosaurs for Halloween and has since dressed them up in Chicago Cubs t-shirts for playoffs, they have worn thanksgiving gear in October and celebrated the holiday season in December. Now, Wallysaurus Rex is supporting its local healthcare heroes and encouraging its community to do the same.

CARSTAR Cambridge donated over 700 goggles, valuable personal protective equipment, to its local hospital. With PPE in high demand and low supply, every donation matters to hospitals like Cambridge Memorial Hospital.

Delivery Support

With many pharmacies doing more deliveries for crucial prescriptions than ever before, to help protect the vulnerable from having to risk their health from being exposed to germs from the public. CARSTAR St-Félix-de-Valois and in Quebec loaned their courtesy vehicle to their local pharmacy, to help alleviate their overwhelmed resources.

Food Bank Donations

With food banks and shelters overwhelmed with requests, CARSTAR Hamilton Lockwood and CARSTAR Hamilton Midtown in Ontario collected, donated and delivered over 1,000lbs of food to Good Shepherd, its local place of shelter for the vulnerable.

Supporting Local Restaurants

Looking to support both a local restaurant in the area as well as its healthcare workers, the team at CARSTAR Tamco Collision gave back this week to its community. For lunch, they ordered wings for the team, supporting their favorite local BBQ restaurant. For dinner, CARSTAR Tamco Collision had dinner delivered to the hospital, where a customer actually works in the lab department.

Protecting Employees

CARSTAR Jungerman in Saint Peters, Missouri, is going the extra mile for their employees, as they have decided to make homemade masks for the team. The incredibly talented Heather Woodson even mixed up the patterns and colors, keeping the team stylish.

For more information, visit CARSTAR.com.