Did Southern Team Subaru go above and beyond, provide exceptional service, or support causes that are important to you? We'd love to hear about it.
We are honored to be nationally recognized by Subaru of America, Inc. for our dedication to our customers, our community, and the Subaru Love Promise.
The 2024 Subaru Love Promise Customer and Community Commitment Award recognizes elite Subaru retailer who provide an exceptional customer experience at every interaction with Subaru. These retailers have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to supporting passions and causes in their local communities in important areas such as environment, community, health, education, and pets.
Here at Southern Team Subaru, we love our community as much as we love our vehicles and are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of all of our customers and neighbors.
Subaru and our retailers believe in making the world a better place and the Subaru Love Promise is our vision of respecting all people. This is our commitment to show love and respect to our customers and to work to make a positive impact in the world.
Did Southern Team Subaru go above and beyond, provide exceptional service, or support causes that are important to you? We'd love to hear about it.
SUBMIT A STORYSubaru and its retailers partner with Operation Warm® to visit local homeless shelters and support agencies to provide children with brand-new necessities like coats, shoes, and socks.
These essential items not only help keep children protected, warm, and dry, they can also have a significant impact on a child's mental and emotional well-being.
Through this partnership and other historical Subaru Loves to Help efforts, Subaru and our retailers will have helped nearly 900,000 children and adults in urgent need so far.
Subaru and our retailers are committed to protecting and preserving the Earth, not just by our words, but also by our actions.
More than 13 million pieces of hard-to-recycle waste collected and recycled through TerraCycle®.
Subaru believes we all should have a chance to lead a healthy life. That's why Subaru and its retailers, like us, partner with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) and their local hospital or cancer treatment center to give warm blankets and encouraging messages of hope, written by retailers and Subaru customers in their stores, to support patients facing cancer. Through our partnership with LLS, we've supported nearly 350,000 cancer patients nationwide. We're proud to be LLS's largest automotive donor.
Subaru and its retailers, like us, are continuing our support of education and high-needs schools in our communities through Subaru Loves Learning(R) by providing teachers across the country with funding to purchase the school supplies and resources they know are needed to help students thrive in the classroom. Through our partnership with AdoptAClassroom.org, Subaru and its retailers will have supported more than 470,000 students nationwide and are proud to be their largest corporate supporter.
Subaru believes all pets deserve a loving home. That's why Subaru and its retailers, like us, partner with a local animal shelter every October to provide direct financial assistance and host adoption events to help animals find loving homes. Through our partnership with local and national organizations, we have donated over $51 million, which has supported the adoption, rescue, transport, and health of over 420,000 animals. We're proud to be the largest corporate donor to the ASPCA.
Subaru and its retailers believe in giving back to our communities. That's why for every new vehicle sold or leased during the Subaru Share the Love event, Subaru and its retailers, like us, makes a donation to national charities that our owners care about and to over 2,100 local charities where Subaru owners live and work.
Now, after 15 years, Subaru and our retailers have donated over $256 million to charity all to give back and to make the world a better place.
Southern Team Subaru believes in making the world a better place and the Subaru Love Promise is our vision of respecting all people in the Roanoke Valley and beyond. This is our commitment to show love and respect to our guests, our Team and to work within our community to make a positive impact.
Roanoke Valley SPCA
Family Promise Greater Roanoke
Roanoke County Education Foundation
Carilion Children's Hospital
Subaru and Southern Team Subaru believe in making a positive impact on the communities in which we live and work. We uphold that belief through our Love Promise Community Commitment. Every month, we select inspiring stories from customers and partners from around our area who strive to support our collective commitment and feature them here.
At Southern Team Subaru, we’re always ready to step up and support our communities, especially in times of crisis. This commitment is at the heart of the Subaru Love Promise®. When Hurricanes Helene and Milton devastated the Eastern region, Subaru retailers like us immediately sprang into action. Alongside other Subaru retailers, Subaru of America, and local organizations, we assessed the most urgent needs in the affected areas. It quickly became clear that local food banks were struggling to keep up with the surge in demand as they worked to support people hit hardest by the storms. In response, we teamed up with 67 Subaru retailers across the region to launch a $400,000 match campaign to aid the hurricane relief efforts of Feeding America®. Southern Team Subaru proudly contributed $10000 to this initiative. While the immediate impact of the storms fades from the headlines, many of our neighbors continue to face long-term challenges like food insecurity, water shortages, power outages, and limited access to essential services. Thanks to the collective generosity of Subaru retailers and the communities we serve, an additional $18,427 was raised. This brings the total impact to $418,427, or over 4,100,000 meals for those in need. "As one of the nation's largest disaster relief organizations, the Feeding America network of food banks and partner agencies is deeply rooted in communities across the country. Together, our partnership with trusted Subaru dealers has helped expedite emergency food assistance and supplies to people who need it most. We are immensely grateful," said Feeding America Chief Development Officer Casey Marsh.
We recently learned from T.A.P. that six families at a local elementary school are facing the possibility of not having a Christmas dinner this year. Understanding the importance of sharing a warm meal during the holidays, we felt it was essential to step in and help. We purchased complete meals that include ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls, macaroni and cheese, and butter—everything needed to create a comforting and loving holiday experience for these families.
During this holiday season, let's take a moment to reflect on the true spirit of giving. It's a wonderful time to remind ourselves of the importance of helping those in need without expecting anything in return. Recently, we learned about several families from a local elementary school who faced the possibility of not having Thanksgiving dinner this year. Our dedicated staff immediately stepped up to the challenge, working together to gather everything needed for a traditional Thanksgiving meal, complete with condiments, pans, and utensils. This act of kindness not only brings joy to those families but also creates a sense of community and togetherness. We can brighten someone’s holiday and remind them they are not alone. Let’s spread kindness and gratitude this season!
Southern team Subaru employees volunteered their time to review applications for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) Scholarship Program. Launched in 2022, this scholarship has supported the Classes of 2022, 2023, and 2024, awarding a total of 306 unique recipients and over 500 scholarships across 48 states. The LLS Scholarship for Blood Cancer Survivors offers up to $7,500 to cover tuition for vocational, trade, two-year, or four-year undergraduate education for a year, whether online or in-person. As we reviewed the applications, we heard powerful stories about chemotherapy, blood transfusions, and immunotherapy. Yet, we were deeply moved by the lingering effects survivors face, like the need for surgery, kidney failure, pancreatitis, and seizures. One young person even underwent a heart transplant at just 16. Alongside these medical challenges, many applicants faced significant financial burdens—some had to relocate across the country—bringing added mental anguish, depression, and stress. It’s hard to imagine such young individuals undergoing these trials. What struck us most was the unwavering spirit that emerged from these stories. The resilience shown in seizing opportunities and the wisdom to navigate life's unpredictability is inspiring. These young people are determined to contribute meaningfully to the world, many aspiring to enter the medical field to help others. While these narratives are challenging to hear, they fill us with gratitude for our own circumstances and ignite a motivation to create positive change. Their journeys resonate with Subaru's core values, reminding us all of the impact we can make in the lives of others.
On Saturday the 26th, the Southern team at Subaru had the incredible opportunity to help 12 cats and kittens find their forever homes. Seeing many of these new pet owners leave with care kits that included food, litter, litter boxes, soft fabric cat carriers, toys, and brushes was exhilarating. Being able to assist these vulnerable animals who truly need our help is one of the most fulfilling parts of working with Subaru. It’s moments like these that fill your heart with warmth and joy.
Thanks to our Pawsome partnership with the RVSPCA we held an Expo featuring local vendors and businesses with connections to companion pets. This event was a fun opportunity to celebrate the human/animal bond, connect with other animal lovers, and learn new things. It is a pet-friendly event and well-socialized and fully vaccinated pets were encouraged to attend. The RVSPCA had merchandise for sale games, prizes children's crafts, and a photo booth. Renewals by Anderson featured displays and giveaways related to window replacements. Toe Bean Cat Cafe had adorable hand knitted cats for sale and other cafe-related items. Heart Animal Rescue had a bake sale and sticker purchase booth. Oakey’s Funeral Home and Pet Crematorium had backpacks and flashing lights to keep pets safe during their nighttime walks. Unleashed pet bakery attended with homemade dog treats. Well Trained Dog hosted a raffle and gave a wonderful speech about planning photos with pets. Glenda Morris from Long and Foster Realty (She donates a portion of every home sale to the SPCA) provided a prize basket raffle, moving-related gifts, and a fabulous attitude. We had two Purrrrfessional Presentations. Beverly Amsler from the Well Trained Dog told us The Who, What, and How of Pet Wedding Attendants & Megan Arant from the RVSPCA and Virginia Tech About Ways the new Partnership between the RVSPCA and Virginia Tech’s Animal Science School will benefit the shelter as well as insight as to how animals may feel once taken to the shelter and how it may change their behavior.
Southern Team Subaru partnered with the Roanoke SPCA and Valley Animal Hospital to provide vaccines and microchips for 100 cats and dogs in our community. Volunteers worked from 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM to ensure everyone was cared for. Traditionally we distributed 20 to 25 vaccinations this year's increase was staggering. Many pet parents stated they could not afford these services (Around $250 per pet with full offering) in the current economic conditions. This event has made a tremendous impact on our community, and we are grateful for the support and participation of everyone involved.
Southern team Subaru partnered with Splash Valley to organize a day of fun and water play for our furry friends on September 7th. The proceeds from the event go to the RCACP (Regional Center for Animal Care and Protection), which is a lifeline for our community. When a beloved pet goes missing, the first place an owner should check is the RCACP. If those pets are not claimed, they are added to the adoption site to find their forever home. RCACP also offers fostering services to provide love, socialization, and playtime, giving these pets a better chance of being adopted. Additionally, they provide a pet food pantry for parents who have fallen on hard times. This year's event had 50 dogs in the large breed slot and 25 in the small breed slot. The event also hosted a costume contest, spreading joy and laughter. The 1st place prize included a dog bed with a gift basket, while the second and third place baskets contained reusable drinkware, backpacks, sunglasses, and dog toys, along with a dog toy box. It's truly heartening to see such support for our furry companions.
Southern Team Subaru is dedicated to nurturing education and has partnered with Burlington Elementary School by adopting classrooms. Recognizing the financial challenges many families face in obtaining school supplies and the personal financial sacrifices teachers make to provide students with necessary tools, Southern Team has stepped in to help. They have provided supply kits containing 1080 #2 pencils, 360 colored pencils, 720 crayons, 450 markers, sticky notes, 180 dry-erase markers, dry erasers, learning boards, disinfectant wipes, glue sticks, fidget poppers, and motivational stickers. This heartfelt effort aims to demonstrate love and deep admiration for teachers and the community by alleviating the financial burden of these essential supplies.
Southern Team Auto Mall and ABC 13 Teamed up to honor exceptional teachers who have made a meaningful impact on their students' lives. Each month, a deserving educator was celebrated with a surprise party and a $500 gift card bonanza, including a $250 Amazon gift card from ABC 13 and a $250 VISA gift card from Southern Team Auto Mall. But that's not all! Throughout the school year, winners were entered to win the ultimate grand prize: a year-long lease on a brand-new 2024 Subaru Forester! Courtesy of Southern Team Auto Mall. The grand prize winner, Miss Karnes will cruise into the next school year in style. Her dedication to her students and leadership qualities made her stand out. Miss Karnes' heartfelt gratitude and joy upon winning the grand prize were truly inspiring. Her selfless commitment to her students and the community has made a lasting difference in the lives of those around her. Miss Karnes' nomination letter highlights her leadership, which is on display every day inside and outside of the classroom. • "Miss Karnes gets to know every child on a personal level. She fills in as a substitute on a daily basis to help the school when needed, always willing to help fill in even if that means she has to stay longer after the school day is done to get her work done. She is the head of several committees that work to find ways to help students individually -- doing presentations to help teach other teachers how to excel in the classroom. She also helps to beautify her school by heading landscaping weekends. She spends a lot of her own money to help ensure her children and her school have everything they need to succeed." • She is going to do whatever she has to do," Principal Spaulding said. "Whether that's stay late, whether that's create her own materials, whether that's finding a program that we haven't used before but she thinks is going to work with a particular kid. I think she just kind of eats, sleeps, and dreams about teaching and reading in particular. “She’s just a natural leader," Spaulding said. "And I don't think she even realizes it. She's got such a wealth of expertise that she just naturally leads other teachers; teachers that have been doing it for years and also new teachers." When she was asked how she was feeling she said, “I am," Karnes began, trying to gather her thoughts amid the shock. "This is wonderful! This is amazing!" I'm just overwhelmed with joy. I feel humbled by this experience. And just, thank you all for this opportunity." Miss Karnes joked afterward that her heartbeat was well over 125 beats per minute during the announcement. She didn't think she'd be the winner. “I came here alone today because I was not expecting to win a brand-new car," Karnes said with a laugh. "My Dad pulled up and I was like, 'Leave! Go, leave! This is embarrassing." "I am just so overwhelmed," Karnes said. "So overwhelmed by all the support and the love. I just appreciate my family, my friends, my community." For Miss Karnes, winning this car is especially unique, as she has never owned or even sat in a brand-new car straight from the showroom. Just like the last time we awarded her for her nomination, she said all of this is only possible because of her amazing students and their families. "Just thank you for giving me the opportunity to have such an important role in your life, to all my students," Karnes said. "Miss Karnes misses you. Can't wait for our next school year."
Southern Team Subaru's collaboration with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has had a profound impact, providing much-needed supplies to cancer patients at the Carilion Clinic. Their donation of 80 blankets, patient care kits, and heartfelt messages of hope reflects a deep understanding of the challenges these individuals face. Additionally, their $10,000 contribution to the LLS Urgent Need Pediatric, Adolescent, and Young Adult Fund offers vital support to cancer patients and their families with financial assistance for non-medical related expenses during a particularly challenging time. Dr. William Fintel, the medical director of Carilion Hematology-Oncology, expressed sincere gratitude for the kindness and support shown by Southern Team Subaru. “From our team to Southern Team, we thank you for your compassion and care and the loving gift,” “The minute cancer invades the life of a person, a team is needed. The gift bag and personalized note of encouragement is exactly what the doctor ordered. Many, many thanks.”-Dr Fintel
Update:Restoring the gift of reading I just spoke to Helmut. He has been having trouble finding the next book in his series and wanted to know if I could assist him. He shared that his quality of life has improved greatly. Helmet is no longer eating out of boredom. He couldn't see enough to watch TV and has trouble hearing his options for entertainment have been extremely limited in the past few years. This is one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever had. Just in case you missed it.... I met Helmut in our service department he was there with his wife I asked them if I could get them anything to eat or drink while they waited. It came up in conversation if I could bring them anything to entertain them change the channel on the TV or get him something to read, he mentioned that he was 90 years old blind in one eye and had a cataract in the other but he used to love reading several books a week unfortunately he was no longer able to see the pages. I'm an avid reader and It touched my heart to hear that reading, something he used to love, was no longer accessible to him. I happened to have a Kindle Fire tablet with me and demonstrated to Helmut how the large print settings could help him read. He said they did not realize this was an option for him to be able to read again, I knew I had to do something more. Seeing the potential, I ordered a fire tablet, a stand (so that he would not have to hold the tablet), and a remote control to turn the pages for him. We decided it would be easiest if I came to their house to set it up for them. I drove over an hour to their home, helped them find their Wi-Fi password and set up an Amazon account and a Public Library card, and even assisted Helmut in getting access to free books through the Libby app. I even gave him a pair of my over-the-ear headphones in case he wanted to listen to an audiobook. Helmut mentioned he had a book that he was unable to finish reading because the magnifying glass he was using started giving him headaches. Before leaving, I downloaded the book Helmut was unable to finish. It was a wonderful feeling to see Him immersed in a book when I left.
This year, as part of the Subaru Loves the Earth initiative, The Southern Team purchased 250 red Maple saplings from the Virginia Forestry Service. Our choice of red maples was based on their stunning and vibrant fall colors, which we believed would bring joy to those who plant them. We diligently potted them in recycled water bottles, providing our customers with an eco-friendly way to take them home and cultivate their own beautiful maple trees. The response from our customers was enthusiastic, with many expressing genuine excitement, and some even opting to take home more than one tree.
I met Helmut in our service department. He was there with his wife I asked them if I could get them anything to eat or drink while they waited. It came up in conversation if I could bring them anything to entertain them change the channel on the TV or get him something to read, he mentioned that he was 90 years old blind in one eye and had a cataract in the other eye, but he used to love reading several books a week unfortunately he was no longer able to see the pages. I'm an avid reader and it touched my heart to hear that reading, something he used to love, was no longer accessible to him. I happened to have a Kindle Fire tablet with me and demonstrated to Helmut how the large print settings could help him read. He said they did not realize this was an option for him to be able to read again. I knew I had to do something more. Seeing the potential, I ordered a fire tablet, a stand (so he would not have to hold the tablet), and a remote control to turn the pages for him. We decided it would be easiest if I came to their house to set it up for them. I drove over an hour to their home, helped them find their Wi-Fi password and set up an Amazon account and a Public Library card, and even assisted Helmut in getting access to free books through the Libby app. I even gave him a pair of my over-the-ear headphones in case he wanted to listen to an audiobook. Helmut mentioned he had a book he couldn’t finish because the magnifying glass he was using started giving him headaches. Before leaving, I downloaded the unfinished book. It was a wonderful feeling to see Him immersed in reading when I left.
During Teacher Appreciation Week, the Southern Team Subaru showed their support for Burlington Elementary School's teachers, teacher aides, and support staff by catering a Chick-filet lunch for 80 people. The Burlington Bobcats were thrilled, and it was truly heartwarming to nourish the staff who work so diligently to nurture young minds.
Children cannot receive a quality education without skilled, proficient, and dedicated teachers. The Education Foundation Golden Apple Teacher of the Year program’s purpose is to give recognition and honor to teachers who have had a significant impact either academically or personally on their students. Students, parents, coworkers & administrators can nominate a teacher to receive the Golden Apple Teacher of the Year award. This is the highest award presented to a teacher by the Education Foundation. This years Golden Apple Teacher of the Year award winner is Dr. Matt Neale. Dr. Neale teaches English and journalism at Hidden Valley High School. He has dedicated 19 years of his life to improving and enriching the academic lives of his students. As the Golden Apple Teacher of the Year, Dr. Neale is now Roanoke’s nominee for the 2025 Virginia Teacher of the Year award. As part of Southern Team Subaru's commitment to the community, we have gifted this years Golden Apple Award winner a brand-new Subaru to drive free for a full year. Thank you, Dr. Neale, for your devotion to providing students in our community with a solid foundation for their continued learning.
Southern Team Subaru collected almost 450 pounds of Food for LOAs soup for seniors program in just one week. Employees unloaded customers' cars when they drove up with a donation and stored it in the service lounge to inspire future donations. Employee volunteers also donated time to help LOA sort and bag donations from the community. as well as help load the bags into Meals on Wheels distribution vehicles. Soup for Seniors began in October 2006 as a project for LOA foster grandparent and senior companion programs. That first year they had very modest goals of serving those within the program and Meals on Wheels recipients. The community fully embraced the project. Enough soup and crackers were donated, and LOA was able to serve all of its clients and more in neighboring communities. Collection and distribution were moved to early February to serve the senior population in the most vulnerable parts of winter. For many Seniors, the Meals on Wheels lunch is the only meal they have all day. The Soup for Seniors program helps fill a gap in meals that would otherwise go hungry.
On Saturday, January 20th, 2024, the Subaru love promise was fulfilled by a joint event with Operation Warm. Southern Team Subaru purchased enough winter coats to bring warmth and comfort to 480 children, friends, and neighbors in urgent need. There were no requirements to meet, no paperwork to fill out, or hoops that had to be jumped through. Recipients felt relief due to the lack of red tape. Anyone who showed up at the Event was welcome to select a brand-new coat. Sizes ranged from 2T's to XXL covering toddlers and a few adults. Our beneficiary TAP Event coordinator Jason Hariston was able to secure a location where we could set up a full boutique with clothing racks and size signs. Volunteers included southern team employees tap employees and church members Where Mr. Hariston is an associate pastor. Often the personal pleasure received from volunteering is overshadowed by the impactful moments that occur. Three of those moments and moving stories were... A little boy about 7 years old came in sobbing. When I bent down to ask him what was wrong, he told me that “it was really cold out there and you should not go outside at all!” While I warmed his tiny hands in mine, conversation with his mother helped explain his distress. She said he was cold because they had to walk to the event. They immigrated here from Afghanistan 8 months ago. She wants to get a driver’s license but has had difficulty learning English. I helped him and his sister pick out two coats each. One coat is a slightly larger size than the other so that both coats can be worn at the same time since they will have to walk more in the future. After they selected coats a church member and I drove them home. The drive took 10 minutes, and the mother thanked us and apologized profusely for the inconvenience. We did our best to reassure her that it was no trouble and that this is what it was all about. A mother came in to get a coat for her four-year-old. As they were leaving, she asked a volunteer if they thought she could also get a coat for herself that the one she was wearing no longer zipped. The volunteer noticed the woman’s coat was threadbare and had multiple holes, so she promptly reassured the mother that we had coats that would fit her and would be happy to help her find one. Next year when we participate in this event, we plan to order more adult sizes as well because we have seen that often when children are in need the parents’ situation appears even worse and everyone deserves to be warm. Later during the event, I was helping a young lady find her size coat, but she kept turning away from me. Her mother explained that she was deaf, and the child did not realize that I was speaking to her and trying to help her. After we found a coat the color, she liked I used my extremely limited sign language to tell the young lady she was beautiful. She smiled so big and blushed so hard that the tip of her nose turned pink. I plan to remember that the smallest gesture whether it's adapting the original plan to include someone not previously thought of, offering a hug or a warm hand to hold, or learning enough of any language to say hello or a small compliment can have a great impact on someone else and I am grateful for Southern Team and Subaru for providing me with a job that allows me to grow as a person.
A local school informed us that they had several families who may not receive Christmas dinner our Southern Team staff went to Sam's Club and picked up complete meals including ham, dinner rolls, pies, cookies, macaroni and cheese, applesauce, candy canes, butter, mashed potatoes, green beans, disposable pans, coloring and activity books for children in the household all in a reusable tote.
For July, the Subaru Loves to Help® initiative was a beautiful blanket with messages of love and support from the community. Through this event, Southern Team Subaru partnered with the Leukemia Lymphoma Society® to deliver cozy blankets, eye masks, coloring, and fidget activities to Carilion cancer patients. The average leukemia patient spends 28-30 days in the hospital just during the initial diagnosis. Cancer patients are facing an unseen enemy, and yet they persist. Southern Team Subaru hopes that these blankets will help them feel wrapped in the love and support of the community. No one can fight the battle for them, but we can, and will, stand with them.
We teach our children, “It is better to give than to receive.” During Christmas, Southern Team Subaru thinks it is awesome to “Receive AND Give”! Each December Southern Team Subaru partners with WSLQ/Q99 FM to sponsor the holiday promotion “Receive and Give” which is one of Q99’s most popular and unique contests. Not only do winners receive $100 cash to spend for Christmas, but they also pay it forward by sending a $100 donation from Southern Team to their favorite local charity! Winners Named The following charities... Planned Pethood (low-cost spay & neuter clinic) Agape Center NRV Alpha Delta Kappa Foundation American Cancer Society American Red Cross Angels of Assisi Bedford Christian Ministries Blue Ridge Cancer Care Blue Ridge Women's Center Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lynchburg Camp Bethel Center Point Church Charity League of Martinsville and Henry County Danville Humane Society David Hall Memorial Scholarship Fund Eagles Nest Regeneration Feeding America Southwest Virginia Feeding America Southwest Virginia Fort Trial Baptist Church Franklin Co Humane Society Franklin County Family Resource Center Franklin County Humane Society Friends of Campbell County Animal Control Gleaning for the World God's Pit Crew Jubilee Christian Center Local Office On Aging Lynchburg Humane Society Neonatal ICU at Roanoke Memorial Hospital New River Valley Hospice Plenty! Floyd (food bank) Roanoke Rescue Mission Roanoke Valley Horse Rescue Roanoke Valley SPCA Ryan's Case For Smiles Samaritan's Purse-Operation Christmas Child SPCA of Martinsville-Henry County St Jude Childrens Research Hospital St. Baldrick's Foundation St. Francis of Assisi The Friendship House Roanoke The Least of These Ministries The Perfect Gift Shop Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation Wounded Warrior Project
We teach our children, “It is better to give than to receive.” During Christmas, Southern Team Subaru thinks it is awesome to “Receive AND Give”! Each December Southern Team Subaru partners with WSLQ/Q99 FM to sponsor the holiday promotion “Receive and Give” which is one of Q99’s most popular and unique contests. Not only do winners receive $100 cash to spend for Christmas, but they also pay it forward by sending a $100 donation from Southern Team to their favorite local charity! Winners Named The following charities... Planned Pethood (low-cost spay & neuter clinic) Agape Center NRV Alpha Delta Kappa Foundation American Cancer Society American Red Cross Angels of Assisi Bedford Christian Ministries Blue Ridge Cancer Care Blue Ridge Women's Center Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lynchburg Camp Bethel Center Point Church Charity League of Martinsville and Henry County Danville Humane Society David Hall Memorial Scholarship Fund Eagles Nest Regeneration Feeding America Southwest Virginia Feeding America Southwest Virginia Fort Trial Baptist Church Franklin Co Humane Society Franklin County Family Resource Center Franklin County Humane Society Friends of Campbell County Animal Control Gleaning for the World God's Pit Crew Jubilee Christian Center Local Office On Aging Lynchburg Humane Society Neonatal ICU at Roanoke Memorial Hospital New River Valley Hospice Plenty! Floyd (food bank) Roanoke Rescue Mission Roanoke Valley Horse Rescue Roanoke Valley SPCA Ryan's Case For Smiles Samaritan's Purse-Operation Christmas Child SPCA of Martinsville-Henry County St Jude Childrens Research Hospital St. Baldrick's Foundation St. Francis of Assisi The Friendship House Roanoke The Least of These Ministries The Perfect Gift Shop Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation Wounded Warrior Project
Southern team Subaru has participated in the Toys For Tots program since day one. Nearly 1 in 6 American children are living in poverty right now. The rising costs of food & housing mean more American families are struggling than ever before. Parents are working extra shifts, even extra jobs, just to provide the basics for their children. Toys For Tots has been giving parents the incomparable joy of making their children’s Christmas wishes come true. During the 2022 holiday season, 16,471 toys were distributed and 3,916 children were supported. Two of our employees spent several hours shopping for new unwrapped toys and filling four shopping carts they were attracting a bit of attention and when asked they relayed that they were shopping for Toys for Tots many other shoppers asked what was needed and where could they donate. Southern Team Subaru also donated the use of our box truck for dropping off donation boxes and then picking up full ones from October through January which has saved The Toys for Tots organization hundreds of dollars a day that can be put back into the community. Southern Team Subaru with the help of our generous community was able to overfill 8 donation boxes for the US Marine Corps reserve to distribute in our following counties: Alleghany, Bath, Botetourt, Craig, Salem, Roanoke, and Roanoke City. Southern Team Subaru will continue to be committed to our community and its needs.
Cancer has many names, and this winter Southern team Subaru employees volunteered their time to review scholarships for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society scholarship program. Childhood cancer can affect a future before it ever gets started. Many have to change their plans or their dreams for better or worse due to their illness whether it’s trying to stay close to a treatment facility instead of going away to the school they actually wanted to attend or having a healthcare provider inspire them to a career in the healthcare field. Southern Team volunteers spent hours reviewing applications and scoring them according to the LLS scoring rubric. Many of the stories, while difficult to hear and at times causing tears of happiness and joy. We all received something at the end, knowing that battles could be won, hurdles jumped, and hardship turned into inspiration. This small look into someone else’s life has made us all better people. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) knows how challenging it can be to plan for your future during or after cancer treatment. Hospital stays and interruptions in school may mean pausing your goals. And the high cost of cancer care can make affording higher education difficult. As you navigate life after diagnosis or treatment, we’re here to help. The LLS Scholarship for Blood Cancer Survivors provides up to $7,500 to cover tuition for virtual or in-person vocational, trade, two-year, or four-year undergraduate education for one year. Your future is now, and we want to support your dreams.
As the holidays approach, there are certain things we all look forward to whether it’s the decorations, the music or the thought of that big family dinner. Southern Team Subaru was notified of 12 families that would not get to experience that delicious family dinner without help. Our staff jumped at the chance to help these families and put together dinner boxes. Each box will contain everything they need to have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, turkey, stuffing, butter, mashed potatoes, gravy, dinner, rolls, green beans, macaroni and cheese, applesauce and pumpkin pie, they will even receive cooking instructions, roasting bags, foil, and pans to make cleanup easier. It is our hope, that when they are able, they will remember to help others and truly understand the peace and comfort it brings to help someone without expectation of receiving anything in return. Happy Thanksgiving
Southernteam enjoyed passing out around 400 pounds of candy from 3 PM to 7 PM at a WSLS trick-or-treat event at Layman family farm on October 26. It was a fun event for all ages ranging from a couple of months to nearly those who are nearly centenarians. I don’t know who had more fun, Subaru volunteers or the trick-or-treaters popular costumes have been scarecrows, ninjas, witches, princesses, police, officers, and firemen. We also had the opportunity to hand out milk bones and Chewbaru' to several four-legged, good boys and girls. It was a great kick-off to spooky season.
Saturday, October 7, 2023, Southern Team Subaru Opened its doors and wallet to help Roanoke SPCA to find furever home. Southern Team paid the adoption fees for 11 good boys and girls. Many came with their own sad story, but Otis pulled our heartstrings when we were first introduced. Otis promptly sat down and stuck out his paw to shake with such a well-mannered introduction, we thought for sure he would be one of the first to go. Otis and his sister belonged to a middle-aged man who passed away. The man’s mother tried to keep them but it was too much for her & she was extremely distraught when she had to relinquish her son’s pets. Otis’ sister was quickly adopted but unfortunately, Otis was left behind. He had been in the shelter for about six weeks, most likely because he was nine years old. At the end of the event, Otis was still hanging around with us. A young lady came in to purchase a new Ascent and asked her father, a mobile mechanic to accompany her. Of course, her father‘s main concern was to help his daughter but he kept being distracted by Otis. It was clear Otis was pulling on his heartstrings also. Her dad decided at the very last minute that he was taking Otis home with him. Otis’ new dad is a mobile mechanic (Wicks mobile fix) and he gets to hit the road every day on a new adventure. Otis is loving going to work and having a purpose. It is Southern Team Subaru‘s wish that all 11 adopted dogs are enjoying their new adventure as much as Otis.
Southern Team Subaru is taking the opportunity to show our love for animals, especially our local wildlife. South West Virginia Wildlife Center makes it its mission to protect local wildlife, 2,600 sick injured and orphaned wild animals pass through the center each year they are cared for until, hopefully, they can be released back into their natural habitat. Southern Team Subaru is sponsoring the Night Owl O' Ween Gala the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Wildlife Center. The costume gala will have a silent auction, live music, food, and much more. Southern team Subaru is committed to helping conserve care for, and provide education about our local wildlife. It is our hope that our donation will help further the cause it is up to all of us to make sure that nature not only survives but thrives.
Southern team Subaru has adopted classrooms at Burlington Elementary School. Subaru Loves Learning® is an important aspect of the Subaru Love Promise®. Southern Team Subaru donated 160 pair of Sony headphones. They can be used to listen to instructional videos, e-learning software music classes, and educational games. In some cases, they may even be worn for noise-canceling comfort. The use of headphones can enhance the whole learning experience. Many families can't afford basic school supplies and when the school said a lot of the students didn't have the necessary item Southern Team came through. Southern Team Subaru wanted to share their love of learning by eliminating that cost for these students in hopes they will feel included. Don’t forget to thank a teacher today!
It is that time of year again! Back to school is just around the corner, even though students have a couple more weeks of freedom and fun. However, work For the Teachers at Burlington Elementary School has already begun. They must spend the next couple of weeks preparing their classrooms for the new year and for that task, they will need food and hydration. Southern Team Subaru LPCs headed to Sams Club to purchase enough snacks and drinks (about $400 & 50 lbs. worth) to help energize 75 school employees and teachers. Even re-packaging the fruit & snacks to fill 2 rolling carts in a visually appealing way. This is just one more way; Southern team Subaru answers the call to help the community and dedication to the Love Promise. Burlington Elementary Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/100057488985198/posts/pfbid03Jyo5CJqWAisPrGhoVowta9LxBx1J9ou1HGJydf3WKzWYcrZeKz4QESpskovHrRXl/?mibextid=cr9u03
Southern Team Subaru is a bronze-level sponsor of our Local Office On Aging's "LET'S GIVE A LUNCH" fundraiser. Funds raised will benefit the Meals on Wheels® and Nutrition services, a service that provides nutritious meals to hungry seniors in our community. “Let’s GIVE Lunch” is a chance for you to purchase AND give lunch to a neighbor in need. So many people are confined to their homes due to age, disability, & severe health issues which can make grocery shopping a challenge, 48% of our seniors say this is their only meal of the day. Some seniors who are unable to leave their homes feel isolated and need social interaction as much as if not more than a meal. Ensuring that hunger is NOT another thing for them to worry about is why Meals on Wheels is such a vital program. Another component of Meals on Wheels® is Pets Eat Too! As a partner with the Roanoke Valley SPCA, the Local Office On Aging receives donations of pet food. Meals on Wheels recipients who are pet owners, also receive a weekly supply of pet food. This provides the added relief of knowing that their beloved four-legged companions will be taken care of as well. Too many elderly people are willing to do without (or do with less), so that Fluffy or Fido can have food. The LOA serves homebound seniors 60 and older, and their families in the Fifth Planning District of Virginia, including: Alleghany County Botetourt County Craig County Roanoke City Roanoke County City of Covington City of Salem The Meals on Wheels® program serves 550 recipients each day so it relies on a variety of sources to cover the cost of these meals. The program receives funding from federal, state, and local governments but also relies on donations from community-minded organizations, to reach a growing number of recipients those who are no longer able to fully provide for themselves are given much-needed assistance.
Teacher Appreciation Week this yea,r May 8 through the 12th of 2023, Southern Team Subaru chose to support Burlington elementary school teachers, teachers aids, and support staff by catering a lunch for 65 people. Subaru customers and staff took the time to write thank you cards with inspirational messages of appreciation. The Burlington Bobcats were extremely excited and it was a pleasure to feed the staff that so diligently feeds young minds.
Remember when you were a child, how much you loved to jump in the puddles after a summer rain. It didn't matter that you got soaked to the skin. Now...imagine simply stepping in a puddle and having to suffer the feeling of wet feet all day long. Imagine wearing the same socks for days because you do not have access to a clean water source or simply another pair of socks. That was the inspiration behind Subaru Loves to Help® sock drive. The SLH program provided 500 pairs of socks, and Southern Team purchased additional socks to kick off our Service Socks drive. This really gave momentum to the effort to put our best sock feet forward and help our community. Many of our customers noticed the display in our showroom and were inspired to donate an additional 95 pairs of socks through our service drive. On March 7th, the SLH program donated 995 pairs of socks for men, women, and children to the Samaritan Inn. The Samaritan Inn distributed the socks to the homeless community and those unstably housed— in the Roanoke Valley. Our sock drive made a difference in our community. Socks are the #1 most requested clothing item in shelters. Homelessness often means rarely taking your shoes off and walking for most, if not all of the day. Wearing the same unwashed socks over and over again can cause discomfort, irritation and even infections. It is our hope that our small effort will make a big difference in our community. “We here at Samaritan Inn would like to offer our sincere gratitude for your generous donation of socks to our ministry. This gift will go a long way in helping the homeless and destitute in Roanoke. We count it a distinct privilege to have your support in serving the needy in this capacity”. - Ryan Flanders Director Samaritan Inn, Inc.
Through our partnership with Southern Team Subaru, we hosted an adoption event on Saturday, October 1. We brought six puppies, two dogs, eight kittens and one cat to Southern Team Subaru. By the end of the event, Roanoke Valley SPCA and Southern Team Subaru helped all 17 pets find loving homes. We continued our partnership with Southern Team Subaru and held a free dog vaccine clinic on Saturday, October 8 at the dealership, and a cat vaccine clinic on Saturday, October 15. Thanks to Southern Team Subaru, Mountain View Humane and our friends at VCA Valley Animal Hospital, we were able to provide 32 cats with rabies and FVRCP and 16 dogs with rabies and DHPP vaccines. At these clinics, we also distributed information about our other pet safety-net services available through the Roanoke Valley SPCA.
I bought my car from a friend, it is a Subaru Impreza and has amazing performance. I wish one day, if I get enough cash, I will take it to Subaru Kenya to get genuine parts and to make some repairs for it to look nice and new in the eyes of other Subaru fans. I thank Subaru communities for giving us cars with good and perfect performance.
"Everyone we dealt with were outstanding. It started with our salesperson. In today’s world customer service is often left by the wayside so it was a pleasant surprise to have a good experience purchasing the car. I left with a smile. Then they floored me with the after the sale experience. Kevin Johnson showed me how everything on my new car worked and gave me a gas card. The sales manager Don Shelton and several other employees all were highly invested in giving me what I have to honestly say was the best car buying experience of my whole life. Thank you Southern Team Subaru for a team of some of the nicest most professional people around. I highly recommend."
The folks at Southern Team Subaru (previously First Team) have always been excellent, friendly, and get you in and attended to immediately upon your arrival!!! Keep you informed about costs, time it’s going to take, etc. Love this dealership!!!! In this world where you cannot count on anything anymore, I found Southern Team (or First Team as it was previously known.) The folks there have been CONSISTENTLY wonderful !!!! From Sales to Service, to Collision/Body Repair ( unfortunately I had to also use their Collision/Body Repair when someone backed into me): these folks have been something I can count on. Shout out to Eric Horn and Mark Baker and Jason Garner. Thank y’all So much !!!!!!!
Ruby was originally adopted from our shelter, the Roanoke Valley SPCA several years ago. She recently found herself in the care of a local emergency veterinarian after a really serious incident. She unfortunately drank some type of cleaner which caused pretty bad burns in her mouth and down her throat. Ruby spent several days in emergency treatment with a fever and other complications, plus she didn't want to eat with those painful burns in her mouth. We honestly didn’t know if she would survive for several days. We were so thankful that the staff at the emergency hospital hand fed Ruby to try to get her to eat, and one of their staff even fell in love with her and agreed to foster Ruby during her recovery period. Ruby thrived in foster care and she was finally healed enough to be available for adoption just in time for our Subaru Loves Pets Adoption Event held on October 23rd from 10:00AM - 4:00PM at Southern Team Subaru in Roanoke, Virginia. During the event, dogs and cats from our shelter were available for adoption and each adopted pet went home with a free collar and custom ID tag and dogs also received a free leash in addition to a variety of information and toys provided by Subaru. The adoption event was part of our Subaru Loves Pets month-long initiative to bring awareness to shelter pets and to champion special needs animals including seniors, amputees, visually and hearing-impaired pets and those pets with physical challenges. With everything Ruby had been through, we certainly considered her an underdog. Although she wasn’t adopted at the event, she certainly received some great exposure because of it, and Ruby went to her new home just a few days later! We can't thank our Subaru partners enough for their support in helping us find homes for deserving pets like Ruby.
In June, First Team Subaru participated in the Subaru Loves to Care event. Each year Subaru partners with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) to donate over 167,000 warm blankets, nearly 22,000 arts and crafts kits, and thousands of messages of hope to patients fighting cancer in hospitals and treatment centers across the nation. This year, Subaru and its retailers are mailing out over 40,000 blankets along with the messages of hope to the homes of cancer patients to let them know we care. This June, First Team Subaru guests provided 40 Hope Messages to local children. As a business that is committed to the Roanoke Valley community, First Team Subaru is also helping by providing blankets and other supplies to the children on behalf of our Subaru guests.
In order to keep our natural resources safe, First Team Subaru has worked closely with Roanoke’s leaders to build and maintain partnerships that go above and beyond existing environmental rules and guidelines. Each April is Subaru’s “Love the Earth” month, where dealers are recognized for their efforts in keeping our environment safe through recycling. Year-round, First Team Subaru consistently follows environmentally-sound guidelines, provides recycling bins for our guests, and makes sure to recycle every possible disposable. This includes items that cannot be tossed into the home recycling bin like coffee capsules, snack wrappers, and dealer-specific recyclable auto parts and fluids such as motor oil and air filters. First Team Subaru works with TerraCycle through Subaru of America to collect and transport recyclables safely and efficiently. For Subaru “Love the Earth” month, First Team Subaru did a special community recycling drive, inviting people from the community to bring their recyclables to the dealership for proper disposal, even if they weren’t First Team customers.Some of the recycling numbers from First Team Subaru for include: Coffee, Tea, & Creamer Capsules 85 lbs., 3,159 Units Disposable Cups and Lids 53lbs., 5,300 Units Snack Wrappers 114 lbs., 14,319 Units First Team Subaru is very happy to provide this free service for the community, and looks forward to continuing the efforts throughout the year.
Did Southern Team Subaru go above and beyond, provide exceptional service, or support causes that are important to you? We'd love to hear about it.
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