Stillwater Motors Collects Gifts to Provide Holiday Cheer for Local Children
Dec 15, 2013
Community involvement has always been important to the Raduenz family of Stillwater, as is evident at Stillwater Motors where third-generation owner DJ Raduenz hopes to fill the bed of a pickup truck with toys to be donated to the children who live in two low-income mobile home communities.
“The dealership has been collecting toys for children in time for Christmas since the 1970s, and in recent years we’ve targeted our efforts locally to help fill the need of the kids in our community,” said DJ, who began working at Stillwater Motors as a teen and has been with the family business now for 33 years. “It’s a nice feeling to be able to give back and provide support where we can.”
Born and raised in Stillwater where he and his wife have also raised their three children, DJ is following in the footsteps of his dad and grandfather, who started the company in 1922. He said collecting toys each year is both emotional and moving, and providing the toys to FamilyMeans, which oversees year-round programming for two youth programs in the communities of Landfall and Cimarron, is rewarding. An evening is set aside at FamilyMeans each December where the children’s parents are able to select a gift or two for each of their children, guaranteeing each child will have a gift to open on Christmas morning.
Added DJ, “we’re so grateful to our customers, staff members and those in the community — and there are many — who donate toys or gift cards each year, and help support a good cause.”
The pickup truck at Stillwater Motors is starting to fill with toys, games, books, and stuffed animals, but there is plenty of room for more. Most needed yet are gifts for older children and young adults.
If you want to make a donation, Stillwater Motors will be collecting gifts through Wednesday, Dec. 18, at which time they will be delivered to FamilyMeans in Stillwater to be distributed to families during the “parents night out” to select a gift for their children in time for Christmas. To learn more how you can help, contact us today.