Red Deer, Alberta -- CARSTAR Red Deer and CARSTAR Red Deer South have made a $5,000 donation to the Red Deer Christmas Bureau and Red Deer Food Bank, pushing their total community giving to more than $52,000 since the program launched 22 years ago.
The annual initiative began in 2003 when the Hemstreet family and their teams chose to donate to the Christmas Bureau instead of sending holiday treats to insurance and vendor partners. The move has evolved into a long-standing effort supporting families across Central Alberta during a period of heightened need.
“As this program has grown, we’ve learned just how deeply these donations can impact families during a difficult time of year,” said Lindsay Arthur, office manager at CARSTAR Red Deer. “Our team deserves a great deal of credit — they believe in this initiative just as strongly as our ownership does, and everyone’s commitment is what allows us to keep building on it each year.”
The franchisees later expanded the program to include the Red Deer Food Bank, acknowledging the importance of year-round food support in the region. They have also supported Red Deer’s Stuff-A-Bus campaign for 17 years. The joint effort led by the Food Bank and Christmas Bureau collects food, toys and financial donations for families facing both immediate and ongoing pressures.
“CARSTAR Red Deer and Red Deer South consistently demonstrate what community leadership looks like,” said Andrew Northrup, zone director at CARSTAR. “Their long-term commitment to supporting local families is a perfect example of CARSTAR’s values in action, and we are incredibly proud of the positive impact they continue to make in Central Alberta.”
Both locations say they plan to maintain their tradition of seasonal and year-round community support.
