The Subaru Love Promise in Action
At Castle Subaru Portage, we realize that being a local dealership isn't just about the vehicles we sell, it's about the people we serve and the community we share. The Subaru Love Promise guides how we treat every customer and how we shape our community. With a focus on respect, honesty, and care, we aim to leave a positive impact in the places we call home.
Donating 300 Coats Through Operation Warm at the Portage YMCA
In Northwest Indiana, winter can bring long nights and frigid temperatures, which makes a warm coat a necessity. That is why our Subaru dealership was proud to take part in Subaru Loves to Help this season by partnering with Operation Warm. With their help, we were grateful to provide 300 brand new winter coats for children in our community, and we coordinated a local drop off through the Portage YMCA to help ensure the coats reached the kids who could use them most.
Operation Warm is a national nonprofit focused on being “More Than a Coat,” supporting children with the warmth and confidence they need to show up to school ready to learn, participate, and enjoy being kids throughout the winter. The organization has been in service for over 26 years, supporting more than 4,000 communities and over 7 million children. This is what Subaru Loves to Help is all about, turning a national initiative into practical local support for families right here in our area.
Why Coats and Shoes Are Top Needed Essentials for Kids
On average, children grow out of their clothes every six months, and between the ages of 4 to 14, children outgrow their shoe sizes every four to eight months. With needs changing that quickly, winter essentials can be difficult to keep up with and are not always easy to replace right away. Especially for households with more than 1 child, it can be easy to underestimate how quickly the basics can become a challenge.
The average retail value is about $60 for a coat and $48 for shoes and socks, and families living in poverty often spend more than 80% of their income on essential needs like food, childcare, healthcare and shelter. For many, the costs add up quickly, which leaves less room for replacing winter coats, socks, and other necessities.
The proper footwear and warmth of a coat does more than keep a child comfortable, it keeps them confident, included and ready to tackle what's next. Many children miss school or cannot fully participate in winter activities because they do not have a warm coat, or they have shoes that do not fit properly or are worn out. When kids are prepared for the day physically, they can show up mentally.
How Subaru Loves to Help Works
Subaru Loves to Help connects Subaru retailers with nonprofit partners and local organizations serving children experiencing homelessness or other urgent situations. Our Subaru dealerships are partnering with Operation Warm to help provide support to more than 140,000 children with brand-new necessities like coats, shoes, and socks. Through this partnership and other historical Subaru Loves to Help efforts, Subaru and its retailers have helped over 1 million children and adults so far.
Keep Up With Our Community Commitment
Our Subaru dealership knows community support is not a one time effort. Our team is committed to showing up everyday, working hard for you, and supporting initiatives that builds our community stronger. We appreciate everyone who has made this initiative as successful as it has been, including our team members, customers, team members, and local organizations.
Learn More About Our Love Promise Community Commitment
Our Love Promise Community Commitment reflects the goal to make the world a better place through initiatives that support people, pets, and the planet, including Subaru Loves to Help. If you would like to learn more about our community efforts and what the Subaru Love Promise means at our Subaru dealership in Portage, Indiana, visit our Love Promise page.