GREENSBORO, N.C. — Do you know what's cool? Getting a free oil change! But do you know what’s even cooler? Getting a free oil change by giving to your community.
For the past 12 years, Thomas Tire & Automotive has been getting back to their community in their annual Food for Oil campaign.
"Customers can come in and donate 20 non-perishable items and they get a free premium oil change, it’s one of our biggest events that we do," said general manager, Eric Arnold, who has been with the company for 34 years.
While customers get an oil change, Thomas Tire partners with local Food Banks and non-profits like the Guilford County Reentry Council, to ensure that their pantries are stocked.
"It became apparent that the food banks are pretty much diminished after the Thanksgiving holiday, so what we do the whole month long when the customers bring in the 20 items and then we donate the first week in December and then that helps those families and communities get through Christmas and the first of the year," stated Arnold.
As a North Carolina-based company, Thomas Tire believes that it must give back to the place it calls home.
"All of our locations are here in central North Carolina, so this is home to us, this is the customers, the communities that we service, and this is just another way for us to give back," said Arnold.
Now, just in time for the holidays, Thomas Tire gives an oil change, and its customers give their cities a change for the better.
“I think this one just hits home to everybody because of the time of the year because of everything! It’s just a really good feeling for us and I feel like it’s also a good feeling for our customers," finished Arnold.
Thomas Tire is currently accepting donations for the entire month of November, but if your car doesn’t need the oil change right this second, they will happily give you a gift card to come in at a later date.