St. Cloud Subaru Wins National Love Promise Award

Subaru has Love Promise commitments to the environment, health, education, pets, and community. Each month, Subaru executives award two dealerships the Love Promise Story award. St. Cloud Subaru won their first award in September for their commitment to Subaru Loves Learning. St. Cloud Subaru worked with Place of Hope Ministries and won the Love Promise Story award because Carol and Geary, Directors of Place of Hope, submitted their story to Subaru Executives. 

“Place of Hope was started in the St. Cloud area in 1997,” wrote Director Carol Smith in her story submission. “My husband Geary and I felt called to do something for the homeless in our community, and it started with the most basic human need: water. It was quickly obvious that so much more was needed, and so began our journey as the founders of what is now Place of Hope Ministries.”

In 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for shelter and community increased exponentially. This is where Compassionate Hope Family Center was started, a temporary and transitional housing center for up to 32 families and 30 single women. St. Cloud Subaru has previously stepped up to help with meals, money, and showing neighborly compassion, but their most recent act took it one step further.  “In most cases, school-year needs are met with some standard donations of supplies, shoes, maybe some clothing,” wrote Carol Smith. “Seldom do these children have the opportunity to experience the excitement of choosing what they want to wear or carry, in a color or style that they love.”

Bobby Konnight, General Manager of St. Cloud Subaru, and his team took families to Sierra Trading Post and encouraged them to choose whatever they needed to start the school year and feel ready to learn. St. Cloud Subaru covered everything, with no limit to what families could choose. “Given the freedom to select what their child needed, carts were filled with everything from clothing and shoes to backpacks, jackets, lunch boxes, and socks!” wrote Carol Smith. “All items were selected with great excitement by the children and their caregivers.”

“It wasn’t until Tuesday, when they were going back to school, that we felt the impact. Ten kids were waiting for the bus, and they all had nice, brand-new backpacks, shoes, and a cool jacket that they wanted, and it made them feel a lot better going into school,” said Konnight. “It really meant a lot to everyone to be a part of that for sure.”

“St. Cloud Subaru’s generosity changed lives for these families as they begin the 2024 school year!! wrote Carol Smith. “Thanks to St. Cloud Subaru, dozens of children in our care are now starting the school year with confidence and pride.”