CARSTAR Red Deer and CARSTAR Red Deer South continued their long-standing tradition of community support with a $5,000 donation to the Red Deer Christmas Bureau and Red Deer Food Bank. With this year’s contribution, the franchisees have now surpassed $52,000 in total giving since the initiative began 22 years ago.

CARSTAR Red Deer and CARSTAR Red Deer South are proudly locally owned and operated and are long-standing pillars of the Central Alberta community. They’ve built their reputation on serving local families with care, supporting community initiatives, and consistently giving back to the place they call home. The program was launched in 2003, when the Hemstreet family and their teams chose to donate to the Christmas Bureau in lieu of sending holiday treats to insurance and vendor partners. What began as a small gesture toward meaningful change has grown into a significant annual commitment supporting families throughout Central Alberta.

“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, 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.”

Expanded program

Over the years, the program expanded to include the Red Deer Food Bank, recognizing the importance of year-round food support in the region. The franchisees have also proudly supported Red Deer’s Stuff-A-Bus campaign for the past 17 years—a collaborative annual event hosted by the Red Deer Food Bank and Red Deer Christmas Bureau that combines food, toy, and cash donations to meet immediate and long-term community needs.

“CARSTAR Red Deer and Red Deer South consistently demonstrate what community leadership looks like,” said Andrew Northrup, Zone Director, 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.”

CARSTAR Red Deer and CARSTAR Red Deer South remain dedicated to supporting local organizations and look forward to continuing their tradition of giving for years to come.