March 5, 2023
Rental equipment and volunteers improve the grounds of Folly Farm Nature Preserve in Safety Harbor, Fla.
Is there a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in your area that could benefit from a day or two’s worth of equipment and hands-on labor from the rental community? Consider submitting that organization as a candidate for the Community Impact Program.
The Community Impact Program — a joint initiative of the ARA Foundation and The Toro Company Foundation — is designed to improve the communities where our rental members work and live. It involves the foundations partnering with local nonprofit organizations to coordinate community service projects, with an emphasis on assisting underserved populations.
The purpose of the program is twofold: to allow those in the rental industry an opportunity to give back to their community as well as build public awareness and demonstrate the advantages of rental.
To date, the Community Impact Program has spanned projects in eight states and has seen rental professionals assist with projects like the building of an outdoor classroom in Texas, the cleanup of a flood-damaged play area at a state park in Minnesota and park beautification at a botanical garden in New York.
A Community Impact Program project undertaken in Ohio, which improved a baseball field and other areas for the Boys & Girls Club, offered “great exposure for something that is in line with what our members offer: quality equipment and knowledgeable people,” says Dan Fielitz, president, General Rent-All, Massillon, Ohio, and an ARA of Ohio board member. “This was a great chance to demonstrate our members’ familiarity, knowledge and experience with what we carry every day at our local rental yards and show how our equipment can make a positive difference in the lives of our customers and the entire community.”
Watch the video below to learn more about the Community Impact Program and see volunteers from the world of equipment and event rental in action:
Click here to view Community Impact Program project criteria and to submit an organization/project in your local community for consideration.
