Capital Subaru donates brand new SUV to Gathering Place

A St. John's car dealership gave a local charity the gift of transportation Fridayby providing them with a brand new vehicle.

The Gathering Placean organization and service centre that helps feed the hungry while performing other charitable work in the citywas in desperate need of a new vehicle after the vanthey were using for years reached the end of its life.

"We weren't at all sure how we were able to move forward," said Joanne Thompson, executive director of the Gathering Place.

"So this was an unexpected gift that makes such a difference in terms of how we're able tocontinue to meet the needs of people in the communitywho truly exist outside of other services."

Thompson sent CapitalSubaruanemailin Februaryasking if the dealership could support them with a car donation.

After seeing the state of the old vehicle the Gathering Placewasusing, Capital Subaru President Frank Howard said he thought the groupcould use a brand new Subaru Outback SUV and three years of free servicing.

"Hopefully they'll have many, many years of free maintenance and free tires,but I'm not going to look after their gas." he said with a laugh at Friday's presentation ceremony.

"But everything else we're going to look after for the next three years."

The new SUVwill allow the Gathering Place to continue doing deliveries, including bringing produce their members grow in their summer garden to market.

Thompson said the new vehicle comes at the perfect time. The group has been expanding its programming todelivermore food items to their members, to help them become more independent in the community.

"Having a vehicle, well, it's daily life.It's an absolute necessity," she said.

"For Capital Subaru to come in and give us something that's this incredibly beautiful and newit's wonderful."