Sakelaris Automotive Group is bringing the "Fill a Ford for the Holidays" to Moniteau County.
After the purchase of the Rolla Ford dealership, Steve Sakelaris and his mother Mary decided not not only to continue the tradition of that dealership of filling Fords for the holidays, but to expand it it to their other Ford dealerships.
The program of collecting donations of cash, non-perishable food, toiletries and other daily used items, was started by Denny LaBantschnig in 1990. For 22 years, the program continued with 100 percent of the donations used to fill area food pantries ahead of the Christmas holidays. In 2012, the program supplied two Ford truckloads each to 33 food pantries in Phelps and surrounding counties.
The staff at Sakelaris Ford of California are thrilled to participate and have committed donations already. Requests from other pantries will be accepted on a first come first serve basis, and as supplies allow.