Season of Giving: U-Haul Trailer Donation Helps Plano Food Drive

Dec 29, 2016

PLANO, Texas — The holidays are a season of giving. People offer their time, money and sometimes, in the case of our local U-Haul stores, even a trailer donation in the name of helping our communities and those who are less fortunate.

“Donating the U-Haul 6×12 trailer was the least I could do to help get over 8,000 cans of food to the Plano Santas,” says Kristopher King, general manager at U-Haul Moving & Storage of Los Rios.

Kristopher King, U-Haul General Manager

The nonprofit Plano Santas delivers food and gifts to families in need. The organization partners with the Plano Independent School District, collecting food that contributes to its community drives.

“Norma Jones, a (parent liaison) at Otto Middle School, which is less than a mile away from our U-Haul store, called to ask if U-Haul could help out in any way,” King says.

“When I got off the phone with Kris, I was almost in tears,” Jones adds. “It was a blessing to have U-Haul donate the trailer for such a good cause. Without their support, we couldn’t have done this. We needed everyone working together to help the needy families in our area.”

U-Haul partners with a handful of national organizations that share our mission, as well as charities in Phoenix, Ariz., where U-Haul is headquartered. The industry leader in do-it-yourself moving and self-storage assists other nonprofits on a local level when possible. U-Haul focuses its efforts on helping organizations that address people’s basic human needs (food, clothing and shelter) as well as the needs of veterans.

“We really care about the communities we are a part of,” King adds. “It’s great to give back, even if it’s just a trailer.”

U-Haul Trailer Transports 8,000 Cans of Donated Food

King delivered the U-Haul trailer to Otto Middle School to collect the donated food for the Plano Santas’ food drive. Students from all sixth-grade classes helped load over 8,000 cans of food into the U-Haul.

Twice the U-Haul trailer had to be loaded and driven to the organization’s warehouse, a process that took roughly three hours.

“The kids are so happy to see the U-Haul trailer. They thought it was really neat to use it for what they were doing,” King says. “U-Haul is a huge but largely silent part of the community’s life. People need us. It could be for moving, propane for cooking parties, or just getting kids’ bikes out of the storage unit.”

Otto Middle School Students

How have you given back to your community this holiday season? Share it with us in the comment section below!

More articles like this one…

What’s New

Community Spirit: U-Haul Volunteers Help at André House

Community Spirit: U-Haul Volunteers Help at André House

Over half a million people face food insecurity in Maricopa County. Local nonprofits work daily to address this ongoing concern, but could not service those in need with the commitment of community and business members who choose to step up and help. U-Haul...

U-Haul Volunteers Gain Satisfaction from Service at St. Mary’s

U-Haul Volunteers Gain Satisfaction from Service at St. Mary’s

U-Haul® volunteers recently helped St. Mary’s Food Bank put a fresh spin on its mission to provide food for people in need across Arizona. Thanks to St. Mary’s partnership with meal-kit company HelloFresh®, people facing food insecurity can now receive both an...

Texas Panhandle Wildfires: U-Haul Offering 30 Days Free Storage

Texas Panhandle Wildfires: U-Haul Offering 30 Days Free Storage

U-Haul® is offering 30 days of free self-storage and U-Box® container usage to residents impacted by the wildfires across the Texas panhandle. The Smokehouse Creek Fire started on Monday and has burned more than 1 million acres. It’s the largest in the state’s...

U-Haul and ACS Join Forces in Climb to Conquer Cancer

U-Haul and ACS Join Forces in Climb to Conquer Cancer

The Climb to Conquer Cancer of Phoenix is the American Cancer Society’s largest single-day climb event in the world. Every February in Arizona, thousands of cancer survivors, family members, caregivers and supporters participate in the Climb to Conquer Cancer. U-Haul...

U-Haul, Tribute Journey Spread Valentine’s Day Love to Veterans

U-Haul, Tribute Journey Spread Valentine’s Day Love to Veterans

February 14 is not just Valentine's Day. It is recognized as a National Salute to Veteran Patients day. During Valentine's Day week each year, U-Haul and the Tribute Journey say “thank you” to veterans of the U.S. Armed Services who are cared for in Department of...

U-Haul International Moves with U-Box Makes Moving Abroad Easy

U-Haul International Moves with U-Box Makes Moving Abroad Easy

Every new year invites new adventures. If your 2024 adventures include moving abroad, U-Haul International Moves® is equipped and licensed to support your exciting transition each step of the way. The U-Haul® brand is known globally for empowering do-it-yourself...

U-Haul Helps Kurt Warner Charity Change Lives of Arizona Family

U-Haul Helps Kurt Warner Charity Change Lives of Arizona Family

When Luz decided to apply for Habitat for Humanity of Central Arizona’s Homeownership Program, she had no idea just how much of an impact it would have on her son, Jason. The family met Habitat’s criteria and completed more than 400 hours of “sweat equity” by working...

U-Haul Recognizes Its 2023 Volunteers of the Year

U-Haul Recognizes Its 2023 Volunteers of the Year

TEMPE, Ariz. — Michelle Vukov-Mikel and Michele Ramirez have been honored as the U-Haul® Volunteers of the Year for 2023. At the end of each year, U-Haul recognizes the Team Member(s) who has volunteered the most hours, supported the greatest number of U-Haul charity...