AAA’s Annual Warm-Clothing Drive Set for December

AAA’s annual warm-clothing drive is coming soon to a town near you, running throughout the month of December.

Every branch in the AAA Northeast territory will collect winter gear for those in need. Members are invited to participate by dropping off new or almost-new winter gear for those in need. Thanks to the generosity of members, last year’s drive was the best ever. More than 17,500 coats, hats, scarves, gloves, mittens, socks and other winter essentials were dropped off to charitable organizations throughout the Northeast.

For more information, visit AAA.com/AAACares.

Fighting Food Insecurity in the Community

Members also played a huge role in the success of AAA’s annual summer food drive in July. More then 8,300 items were collected for local food banks and pantries.

AAA Northeast also donated $20,000 to area Feeding America organizations. The donations were the result of an employee Stepping Up for Hunger challenge. The club pledged $10,000 in donations to local organizations if employees met the goal in a two-week  exercise challenge. Hundreds of employees participated to achieve a combined 2.6 million steps (representing the number of people in our local communities facing food insecurity).

Because employees far surpassed the goal  – achieving a collective 12.5 million steps – our president and CEO John Galvin decided to double the donation.  These are the local Feeding America organizations that benefited from the $20,000 from AAA Northeast.

• Rhode Island Community Food Bank
• The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts
• The Greater Boston Food Bank
• Feeding Westchester
• Utica Food Pantry
• Food Bank of Hudson Valley
• Community Food Bank of New Jersey

In addition, the 10 employees who logged the most steps during the challenge had $100 donated in their names to the charities of their choice.

Building Relationships in the Community

AAA employees have forged strong relationships with Habitat for Humanity chapters across the footprint through ongoing volunteer efforts, particularly in Rhode Island.

Insurance agent Michelle Vitale accepted a Community Service and Presenting Sponsor Award from Habitat’s West Bay and Northern Rhode Island chapter last month. She represented AAA Northeast as co-lead of the Rhode Island Charitable Giving Committee with Jillian Grossguth, executive assistant for Information Technology. The committee donated $10,000 to the organization this year along with volunteer hours.

Last month, Vitale, Grossguth and other AAA Northeast employees volunteered at the chapter’s Rolling for Homes fundraiser, featuring a procession of 100 jeeps and 65 motorcycles driving by the site of an upcoming Habitat build.

“We were the flag bearers welcoming the jeeps and bikes back to the Elks lodge in Smithfield, R.I. We lined the entrance way to the parking lot,” Vitale said. The event raised $50,000, which will be used to build a house for veterans or active military families. AAA employees also participated in a cleanup of the site in April.

Employees in New Jersey also recently volunteered for their local Habitat for Humanity, helping out at a Habitat ReStore, which sells thrift items to raise money for builds.