Frank Fletcher Subaru of Joplin, Missouri, has donated more than 70 blankets to patients of the Freeman Cornell-Beshore Cancer Institute, marking eight years of participation in the “Subaru Loves to Care” program.
The dealership dropped off the multi-functional fleece blankets, which can also be used as pillows, on Tuesday, June 27. Keeping warm is crucial for patients undergoing cancer treatment. “The environments are very cold…as [the patients] are on treatment, they become colder also,” stated Freeman Cancer Institute Dr. Pamela Landon. “If they are anemic or just being on treatment, they have weight loss and these blankets are really helpful for that.” Subaru’s Love to Care charity supports those diagnosed with blood cancer alongside organizations fighting the illness, such as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. By the end of 2023, the automaker and its retailers have helped almost 300,000 patients across the country.
“It’s great to give to these people who help people with cancer,” commented Frank Fletcher Subaru delivery specialist Georgia Turner, adding: “This is a very small part, but we get to help the Freeman Cancer Institute take care of their patients a little bit…” The dealership is part of the Fletcher Auto Group, which has been in business since 1989 and currently operates ten storefronts in Missouri and Arkansas.
The donation punctuates the impact dealers can have on their communities, especially when backed by their car manufacturers. As small businesses with deep connections to local charities and organizations, retailers like Frank Fletcher Subaru have tremendous power to help those in need.
