Love in Action: California Subaru retailer wraps, mows, plants, and flies into community

The spirit of volunteerism is alive and well in Modesto, CA. What started as a one-day event has turned into a year-round community service initiative. It’s called Love Modesto. And in a time when commonality can seem hard to achieve, Modesto’s individuals, organizations, churches, and businesses come together to support the city they love.

Love Modesto. Love Promise. The projects share similar names and goals, and it’s no surprise Modesto Subaru is a champion of both causes. We recently spoke with Brooke Sorensen, marketing director at Modesto Subaru. She shared about the retailer’s environmental work through Love Modesto and beyond.

Love Wraps

Is it OK to write on a car? It is when Modesto Subaru wraps an Outback for use in Love Modesto. The Outback is present at community events throughout the year. Attendees are invited to add their names to the vehicle.
 

“It’s like legal tagging,” Sorensen says, adding that for every signature collected, Modesto Subaru donates $1 to Love Modesto. Those funds support one annual community work day, plus ongoing volunteer opportunities throughout the year, including neighborhood beautification.
 

Love Mows

Modesto Subaru Chief Operating Officer Chris Gooden and his wife Jessica lead the retailer’s involvement in Love Mows, a branch of Love Modesto. Through the program, groups adopt the lawn of a local individual or household unable to complete yard work.

On the weekends, the Goodens maintain a yard for Rosemary, a 92-year-old retired nurse and cancer survivor. See them in action in this video. Sorensen says plans are in the works to adopt additional lawns this year.
 

Love Plants

With the help of Modesto Subaru and other community sponsors, a neglected piece of property in Modesto’s La Loma neighborhood was transformed to a native plant garden. The garden includes drought-tolerant plants and a butterfly garden.
 

Love Flies

As part of its Subaru Loves the Earth initiative, Modesto Subaru holds a Butterfly Heroes program each April. It teaches the public about the monarch butterfly’s population decline. Customers can stop by the store to learn about the monarch’s plight and pick up free seed packets to start a butterfly garden at home.
 

Catch an overview of Love Modesto in this video, and read about the La Loma Garden project.
Don’t forget to let us know about the green things going on at your store. Send details or
photos to Chuck Golden at chuck@greendealersupport.com.