Monthly Archives: June 2020

Pay It Forward – Tail Wags and Book Bags

Community,

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed life as we know it for everyone around the world. Easterns Automotive Group and Fox 5 DC have been working to highlight and donate to people in need through their Pay It Forward campaign. Over the past few months, they have given back to essential/frontline workers, hospital staff, and doctors + nurses. However, there is one group that they have yet to highlight which is children. Kids aren?t always the first that come to mind but they too have been severely impacted by coronavirus. They went from attending school every day, playing sports, and seeing their friends to being homebound. Students started to take classes online which is completely different. Adapting to remote learning can be difficult especially for those that may have learning disabilities.

Tailwags and Bookbags is a Washington D.C. based nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the educational, emotional, and social well-being of students providing highly trained assistance dogs and handlers to schools. They have a Labrador Retriever facility service dog named Bingo that the students love working with. Prior to COVID-19, Karin Hemphill of Tailwags and Bookbags would take Bingo to classrooms as a support system to students. They?ve since had to make home visits to students with a statewide lockdown in effect and schools closed.

Although Bingo is a great help, the organization is in need of another K9 to help them meet the needs of all the students during this busy summer. Fox 5 DC cameras met Hemphill and Bingo and they were joined by Allison Seymour of Fox 5 DC via satellite. Easterns Automotive Group got word of their incredible work in the community and decided to help out. Hemphill received a surprise visit from Sarah Bassam, wife of Easterns CEO Robert Bassam along with her son Ameen. Mrs. Bassam presented Hemphill with a $7,000 check for Tagwails and Bookbags to help them cover the cost of a new service facility dog. Bingo has visited Ameen?s school before so they have a personal connection to this cause. If you would like to learn more about Tailwags and Bookbags and their wonderful work, please visit www.tailwags.org

 

If you know someone in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area that goes above and beyond the call and is worthy of being recognized, Click here to nominate them.

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Watch the video to see the way everything unfolded.

 

YouTube Link ? https://youtu.be/BiaAqK1gJvk

Link to original post ? https://www.fox5dc.com/news/pay-it-forward-assistance-dogs-provide-children-with-emotional-support

 

Helping Hands – Miriam’s Kitchen + Homeless man turned artist

Community,

 

Homelessness is a national crisis but it affects many of our local Washington D.C. residents directly. According to Mission DC, 16.6% of DC residents live in poverty which is two times the national average. This number of course has increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One DC resident in particular was able to find a home thanks to Miriam?s Kitchen. Miriam?s Kitchen is an organization that vows to end homelessness in the District. Easterns Automotive Group and ABC 7 DC / WJLA caught wind of their amazing work and decided to highlight them on their new edition of Helping Hands.

Leroy Fenner is an aspiring artist that recently found a home after being homeless for two years. He did this with the help of Cheryl Bell who is the chef a Miriam?s Kitchen. Bell has been working very hard during the pandemic preparing breakfast and dinner to the homeless to ensure that their needs are met. ABC 7 cameras followed Fenner to his new home where he gave Bell a tour and showed off his new artwork.

Joel Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group arrived to give him the surprise of his life. Bassam presented Fenner with a check for $1,000 for his tremendous growth and success. He plans on using this money to further his painting career as he eventually wants to go to art school. But Joel wasn?t finished, he also presented Bell with a $1,000 check for Miriam?s Kitchen to help with their expenses as they are a nonprofit organization. Their demand has increased since coronavirus so this $1,000 donation will be able to cover 1,200 meals.

For the last 30+ years, Easterns has always given back to the community and helped those in need. Their hope is that by sharing Fenner?s story that it inspires people to never give up on their dreams. Where you start is never where you end up. Obstacles will come but you must continue working hard to get to the other side. If you would like to learn more about Miriam?s Kitchen, their services, or how to get involved ? please visit www.miriamskitchen.org

 

Watch the video to see how everything unfolded.

Helping Hands, powered by ABC 7 is always looking to help out people or organizations in need that are worthy of assistance. If you know someone that fits this description, please click here to nominate them.

Easterns Automotive Group makes Top 25 Independent Dealer list by Dealer Rater

Award

Each year, Dealer Rater ranks the top independent car dealers in the country.? They rank them based on the quality and quantity of customer reviews that come in.? Based on the 2019 reviews, Dealer Rater chose 3 Easterns Automotive Group locations in Maryland to be included in the Top 25 Independent Dealers ?? Rosedale (Baltimore), Hyattsville, and Temple Hills.? Each of these locations has a 4.9 rating with over 6,000-lifetime reviews combined.

Easterns also won 2020 Dealer of the Year for each of these locations as well the Virginia stores in Sterling and Alexandria.? The Dealer of the Year Award recognizes car dealerships throughout the United States and Canada that have outstanding customer satisfaction. There is also a Customer Satisfaction award that coincides with the Dealer of the Year Award.? All of the Easterns stores have won a 2020 Consumer Satisfaction Award.

It’s clear that people love buying their cars from Easterns!

 

 

Helping Hands – United Community

Uncategorized

 

These days, it seems like COVID-19 is a never-ending battle.? Each week unemployment numbers continue to rise and people?s funds continue to decrease.? At the end of May, ABC 7 ran a story about United Community which is a local food pantry in Alexandria, VA.? The increase in demand has made it extremely hard for them to feed residents of the community.? After the taping aired, they did receive a good amount of donations that inspired them to launch mobile distribution pick-up sites.

 

A volunteer at United Community named Yolonda Earl-Thompson took it upon herself to set up a mobile distribution pick-up site right in front of her home.? Each week volunteers from United Community push carts of food to Ms. Yolonda?s house.? She sits outside and encourages people of the community that are walking by come get free snack packs of food.? As a woman of the community, she knows first-hand how the coronavirus pandemic affected her people.? She is all about encouraging others and uplifting the community.

 

Alison DeCourcey, Executive Director at United Community speaks very highly of Earl-Thomas and her many contributions as a volunteer.? People of the community not only love what Ms. Yolanda is doing but also are doing their part to contribute.? She has received numerous donations and various child and family products.? It also caught the attention of Joel Bassam, Director of Marketing at Easterns Automotive Group.? Easterns has a partnership with ABC7 called Helping Hands where they choose to help people in need that are making strides in the community.? On behalf of Easterns Automotive Group, Bassam donated $2,500 to United Community to continue its mission.? This money will feed thousands of people in the greater Alexandria area.? We cannot thank the entire United Community team enough for their incredible work.? If you would like to learn more about United Community or find ways that you can help, please visit www.unitedcommunity.org

 

 

Watch the video to see how everything unfolded.

 

Helping Hands, powered by ABC 7 is always looking to help out people or organizations in need that are worthy of assistance.? If you know someone that fits this description, please click here to nominate them.

 

YouTube Link ? https://youtu.be/z15jW8COZ7Q

Helping Hands – Surprising a Prince George’s County charity

Community,

 

A few weeks ago, ABC 7 ran a story about Mission of Love charities in Prince George?s County, Maryland. The food pantry was established in 1991 and primarily serves homeless individuals. However, things changed recently due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With unemployment at an all-time high, many people of various industries are struggling to survive and make ends meet. Mission of love has been doing a great job trying to help as many as they can, but It has become tough meeting the demand of people.

Easterns Automotive Group partners with ABC 7 on a segment called Helping Hands where they find people or organizations doing great work in the community. After seeing the work that Mission of Love is doing as a nonprofit organization, the team decided to help out. Alison Starling of ABC 7 joined Joel Bassam of Easterns on a video call to surprise the lovely ladies behind Mission of Love. They got a chance to talk about the charity and express why they are so passionate about the cause. It is very personal for them so of course they hate having to tell people no when there isn?t enough food.

Starling surprised the women of Mission of love virtually by waving a large check for $2,500 from Easterns. The excitement and joy on their faces were priceless because they know that this donation will help feed so many. Beyond providing food, Mission of Love offers utility, rental, and security deposits assistance to homeless and low-income individuals and families. If you would like to learn more, donate, or volunteer at Mission of Love ? please visit www.molcinc.org

 

Watch the video to see how everything unfolded.

 

Helping Hands, powered by ABC 7 is always looking to help out people or organizations in need that are worthy of assistance.? If you know someone that fits this description, please click here to nominate them.

 

YouTube Link ? https://youtu.be/0oXorD6iINU

 

 

Easterns is included in the Top Workplaces of 2020 list by The Washington Post

Award

Easterns Automotive Group is named a Top Workplace of 2020 in the Washington DC Metro area by The Washington Post.

This marks the second consecutive year that Easterns is on the list! We will continue working hard and striving for greatness in hopes to make the list for 2021.

Thank you to our incredible team that made receiving this honor possible! Each and every one of you plays a vital role in our overall success.

Get Up Give Back – Fuel The Fight DC

Uncategorized

 

There is nothing better than seeing people pitching in to help their community.? A group of friends from Maryland created the Fuel the Fight ? campaign.? Amanda Cohen, Chelsea Widerlite, and Carly Steren created the fundraiser to raise money for local restaurants and healthcare workers.? Both have been severely impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Cohen is currently studying to be a nurse so witnessing a pandemic happen right in front of her eyes inspired her to do her part.? Her friends Widerlite and Steren both wanted to give back and do the right thing as well.? All three of them grew up in Potomac, MD (Montgomery County) and attended Bullis High School.? They are very proud to have been able to come together in their later years and make an impact on the community that raised them.

These ladies made it super easy to donate to Fuel the Fight ? DC by creating a Go Fund Me campaign.? With the donations received, they purchase food from restaurants and deliver it to nurses, doctors, EMT workers, and hospital staff.? It is extremely difficult to work during a pandemic so these free meals are able to bring them a smile and ease some of their stress.? Everyone needs a nutritious meal especially those working 12-hour shifts to care for patients.

Easterns Automotive Group and Reese Waters of WUSA 9?s Get Up DC heard about the Fuel the Fight ? DC campaign and wanted to get involved.? Every month the two partner for a Get Up Give Back segment to help out those doing good in the community.? Reese Waters scheduled a video call with the three ladies to discuss their mission.? During the call, he announced that they would be receiving a $1,000 donation on behalf of Easterns Automotive Group.? To date, Fuel the Fight ? DC has been able to provide over $4,596 meals to healthcare heroes across the DMV.? Teamwork makes the dream work!

Easterns Automotive Group and WUSA 9 are always here to help. If you know someone in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area that is worthy of being helped or recognized, please contact at @ReeseWaters on social media. #GetUpDC #GetUpGiveBack

 

YouTube Link ? https://youtu.be/sqFwWHK1Uho

Link to original article ? https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/outreach/get-up-give-back/get-up-give-back-gives-1k-to-fuel-the-fight-dc/65-01021aec-a042-40b2-b36c-36cdfe4391d3