Tokens for the win at Toyota Dealership supporting the local community
By Emma Lucey 14 June 2023
One token, two tokens, three tokens, four! Five tokens, six tokens, seven tokens, more!
In South Australia, a Toyota Dealership has set up a voting stand to allow its local community to divide funds for Schools Tree Day this year. The Peter Kittle Toyota Dealership in Port Lincoln has been participating in National Tree Day since 2017. Previously the dealership had hosted event days for locals to enjoy a BBQ with activities and collect a native tree to take home and plant in the garden. In 2022, the dealership’s focus shifted to Schools Tree Day when they collaborated with a local school to plant 100 trees on school grounds.
This year, the team at Peter Kittle Toyota Dealership wanted to share the Tree Day spirit even further! The team drew up a plan to share funding fairly between multiple schools in the area. Local schools were nominated by the community via social media and the top three schools moved on to the next stage of the giveaway. In a clever case of reuse, the dealership decided to repurpose a voting booth they had stored from a previous competition. Each of the schools would receive a prize of either $1000, $500, or $250 worth of funding for native trees to plant on Schools Tree Day. Three barrels, one for each nominated school, were placed on the booth so the community could choose where to place their tokens for voting.
“We had so many kids, teachers, parents, grandparents and neighbours visit the dealership to ask for a token for the barrel,” says Tracey from Peter Kittle Toyota. The voting booth encouraged healthy competition and community engagement in their small town, with some of the schools even organising a class excursion to visit the dealership and get their votes in for their school. The dealership team expressed how the giveaway has really helped to connect with their local community in ways they would not have expected. “We posted all the pictures on social media and the interaction on our page was mind blowing,” says Tracey.
After announcing the order of funding for each school the dealership placed credit with a local plant nursery, so each school will be able to choose the specific trees and seedlings needed in their respective spaces when it comes to Schools Tree Day on Friday 28th July 2023. The team at Peter Kittle Toyota will also be attending the schools to lend a hand with planting on the day.
“Without our community’s support, we would not be here,” says Tracey. “Participating in National tree day is a small way we can give back and support our environment.”
How to get involved:
Tree Day is a community event which brings many individuals and organisations together to support and celebrate our natural environment. Talk to your nearest Toyota Dealer to find out if they are participating in Tree Day and if they can help with your site.
Host a planting in your community or find a site near you.
Emma brings experience in digital media and communications with a background in several industries such as tourism and hospitality. Prior to joining Planet Ark in 2022, Emma spent 5 years living abroad in London & Amsterdam where she developed a greater interest in the environment and sustainability. Outside of work Emma enjoys gardening, camping and crocheting.
