Is one fan enough to beat the heat? Or is it two fans? Even three fans?
Excessive heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths, with seniors, people with disabilities, and children at higher risk. Many people only operate on a window unit, so they need fans to circulate air throughout their house. This helps circulate the air, plus it can save on energy bills.
That’s why, for over 25 years, America’s Car-Mart has conducted a Community Fan Drive. As our vision states, we are here to ‘improve the communities we serve.’ It’s important to us to give back and lend a helping hand to those in need.
Our associates at our 150+ locations in our 12-state area are ready to collect more fans to help more people. Here are reflections from some of our top fan collectors about our fan drive:
Chatting (up fans) in Conway, Arkansas
“We make the fan drive a topic of conversation during May and June. We chat it up with our customers and our vendors. We tell them it’s a good cause,” says Dishawn Bell, General Manager, Conway.
“The fan drive has always been important to me because we use the fans to give back to organizations that help the elderly and others who are less fortunate to stay cool in the summertime,” Dishawn continues.
“Many companies talk about wanting to help the community, but our company really does. I have worked for the company a long time, and the fan drive is one of my favorite promotions because of the appreciation the people [recipients] show for the fans.”
The Conway team donates fans to several organizations, including a women’s shelter, the Salvation Army, the Conway Housing Authority, and a veterinary clinic. “We also donate fans to a few customers who are in need,” says Dishawn.
Seeing (is believing) in Sherman, Texas
For the company’s last fan drive, the Sherman Car-Mart team had a ‘mountain of fans,’ according to General Manager Chuck Perry. When customers entered the building, they saw the fans, were curious, asked questions, and wanted to help.
“We like to make things visual, so we put all our fans up front so people can see them,” he says. “That gets everyone fired up. We want to help. We want to be the best. That’s what drives us.”
The team donates their fans to the Salvation Army of Sherman. “They’re usually shocked that the fans are new because they usually get second-hand items,” says Chuck. “It’s like a shock and awe.”
“We’re doing this because we want to give back to and improve our communities,” Chuck continues. “It’s part of who we are; it’s our mission, vision, and values. We’re not doing it for PR. No one is a glory grabber for this. We get excited about it!”
And Chuck promises that this year’s fan drive will be big!
Caring (for others) in Brunswick, Georgia
“The fan drive is a way for us to give back. It’s something simple that goes a long way,” says Tiffany Pinkney, General Manager, Brunswick. Each year, Tiffany and her team identify the recipient organizations in the community. For the last fan drive, donated their fans to Grace House of Brunswick, a women’s shelter, and Foundation House, an addiction counseling center, both local organizations.
“This year, we plan to push harder for a bigger turnout and more fans,” says Tiffany. “It’s all about giving back. We are grateful to be a part of a company and team that cares.”
Want to help? Be a Fan!
As the temperatures rise, let’s all come together to help those most vulnerable in our communities stay cool and safe. Every fan counts. At America’s Car-Mart, we’re proud to make a difference for our communities.
Bring a box fan to your local America’s Car-Mart. We’ll take it from there.
Get $1,000 off the down payment on select vehicles* when you donate a new 20-inch box fan.
*With approved credit. See dealer for details. This offer cannot be combined with any other promotional offer. Example: $599 down. 182 weekly payments of $7.44 per $1,000 financed at 18.25% APR. Interest rates may vary by state of purchase.
Check out our other blogs and learn more about our Community Fan Drive:
