The Salvation Army received a significant equipment donation from Bobcat Company, a global equipment and worksite solutions brand, to support ongoing relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton and beyond. This donation, valued at $885,000, includes 23 essential pieces of equipment, such as forklifts, portable generators and light towers, all vital for aiding communities impacted by natural disasters. These assets will be stored at The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) warehouses and deployed across the Southeast, ensuring rapid and effective response to both the current and future disasters.
The Salvation Army has often needed to rent much of this equipment in times of disaster, a costly and logistically challenging necessity, particularly during times of high demand following disasters. With Bobcat’s support, The Salvation Army can respond immediately without needing to source critical equipment during emergencies, enhancing its capacity to serve affected communities effectively.
“This equipment will not only help with our immediate response efforts to Hurricanes Helene and Milton but will also save valuable time and money responding to future disasters,” said Commissioner Kenneth Hodder, national commander of The Salvation Army. “Service delivery is severely impacted when critical equipment is unavailable during disaster operations, and this significant addition of operational equipment in our warehouses and the field is essential to ensuring the safety of our workers and in providing crucial services to survivors.”
The Salvation Army’s EDS teams have provided emotional and spiritual care to more than 130,000 survivors throughout the Southeast since the hurricanes made landfall, as well as providing the following support: 580,000 meals and 370,000 snacks, 115,000 Ready-to-Eat meals, 88,000 food boxes, 280,000 drinks, 87,000 cases of water and 86,000 clean-up kits. With Bobcat’s support, these critical services will continue as long as needed. Moreover, as The Salvation Army has a presence in many impacted areas, residents can rely on ongoing support as they rebuild their lives.
“Bobcat equipment is often at the forefront of helping communities rebuild after natural disasters,” said Mike Ballweber, president of Doosan Bobcat North America. “Our collaboration with The Salvation Army allows Bobcat and our equipment to make an even greater impact, empowering The Salvation Army to maximize their efforts in doing the most good.”
Honda joins in with hurricane relief donation
Continuing its efforts to aid those affected by Hurricane Helene, Honda is donating 40 of its EU3200i portable generators to the American Red Cross to support families in North Carolina who struggled without power in the aftermath of hurricane-related flooding in the area.
This contribution is in addition to an Oct. 3 pledge of $500,000 to the American Red Cross by the Honda family of companies in America, including Honda North Carolina in Swepsonville and Honda Aircraft Company in Greensboro. Honda Aircraft Company also provided use of the innovative HondaJet to transport humanitarian relief aid to hard-hit areas of the region.
At less than 60 pounds, the EU3200i is the lightest, most compact 3000-watt series Honda generator and will provide reliable power for families, helping to operate furnaces, refrigerators and other necessary items. Honda Powersports dealers in North Carolina have taken delivery of the generators and will prepare them for the American Red Cross prior to their deployment.
In addition to the generators, 700 Engineering Learning Lunchboxes will be donated to Honda partner Greensboro Science Center to support students who have been displaced or are learning from home in Western North Carolina. These kits will provide up to 10 hours of hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) content to help fill educational gaps resulting from Hurricane Helene.
Beyond the corporate donations for disaster recovery, Honda and Acura Financial Services continue to offer payment extensions and lease deferrals to customers impacted by the natural disaster. Honda is also providing its associates with an opportunity to join the hurricane relief effort through its matching fund and volunteer programs.
Stellar acquires Elliott Machine Works
Stellar Industries, a 100-percent employee-owned and -operated manufacturer of mechanic and service trucks, cranes, tire service trucks, hooklifts, trailers and service truck and van accessories, acquired Elliott Machine Works, a family-owned manufacturing company based in Galion, Ohio. This strategic investment is aimed at enhancing Stellar’s growth, expanding its product offerings and providing greater opportunities for Stellar distributors, customers and employee-owners.
Elliott Machine Works is recognized for its production of mobile fuel and lube service equipment since 1948 and is known for its innovative and high-quality products, according to the company. Their portfolio includes fuel trucks, lube trucks, water trucks, lube skids, vacuum tanks and other mobile service equipment.
“This acquisition marks a significant milestone for Stellar and we’re so grateful for this incredible opportunity,” said Dave Zrostlik, president of Stellar. “We are excited to have Elliott’s products as a part of the Stellar product offering. Elliott’s great people and great products are a natural fit for Stellar.”
Zrostlik emphasized the importance of the acquisition and its impact on Stellar’s offerings. “By incorporating fuel trucks and lube trucks into our existing line of service trucks, we can now serve a broader mission, reach more customers and meet their needs even better by filling gaps in our offerings. We anticipate that our customers will start to throw more opportunities our way, and we’re ready to deliver. In addition, this acquisition strengthens our commitment to rural communities, ensuring we are making the biggest impact to the places our employees call home.”
The acquisition will not only enhance Stellar’s work truck product offerings but also benefit its vendors, distributors and customers by adding complementary products that serve many of the same markets, including mining, construction and oil and gas. The Elliott manufacturing facility and main office will remain in Galion, Ohio, where it will continue to manufacture the full lineup of specialized service trucks.
“By maintaining operations in Ohio and integrating Elliott’s talented workforce, we are not only preserving jobs but also enhancing economic stability in the region,” noted Zrostlik. “This commitment reflects our dedication to supporting local economies and the communities we serve.”
Brent and Brad Ekin, owners of Elliott Machine Works, said, “We are thrilled to keep our legacy moving forward with Stellar, a highly esteemed company that shares our values. This partnership is a great cultural fit for our employees, and we’re excited for the new heights we can reach together. Stellar’s strong distribution network will allow our exceptional products to reach more customers, and we are especially happy that Stellar’s employee-owned structure means our employees will continue to thrive under new ownership.”
Stellar looks forward to serving existing and new customers with an enhanced product line while also welcoming Elliott employees into the Stellar family, all under a continued commitment to innovation and quality.
Kubota begins partnership with Boot Campaign for veterans
In honor of those who served, Kubota Tractor Corporation began a new partnership with Boot Campaign to support the organization’s work to restore the lives of veterans and military families through individualized, life-improving care. The company started off its program with Boot Campaign on Veterans Day with a series of activities that run through Military Appreciation Month in May of 2025.
Through a series of internal and customer facing efforts, Kubota aims to support Boot Campaign’s mission to provide personalized care for veterans and their families to treat the root cause of hidden wounds of war, to ease stress and financial strain and to produce quantifiable, long-lasting and life-changing results year-round.
Kubota launched its “Geared to Give” program in 2015 in partnership with the Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC) to provide donated Kubota equipment and financial support to help veterans pursue a future in farming. Now, as Kubota embarks on the program’s 10th year, the company will continue to support FVC but also expand its efforts to help more veterans with the Boot Campaign alliance.
“Over the past decade of the ‘Geared to Give’ program, our support of veterans has been incredibly well received by employees, dealers and customers,” said Alex Woods, Kubota senior vice president and a veteran of the Army National Guard. “One of the key learnings has been the collective passion for supporting all veterans and military families, whether it’s for those returning to farming or construction or not. That’s why we are expanding ‘Geared to Give’ and our support for veterans and active military through Boot Campaign. Together, we recognize that our work would not be possible without their work to defend our freedom.”
Kubota’s support for Boot Campaign’s programs runs through May 2025 for Military Appreciation Month when the company will raise funds with in-store, dealer fundraising efforts and online boot sales as a part of Boot Campaign’s “Lace Up, America” movement, and T-shirt sales in support of their “You Matter” program, to remind people of the service and sacrifice of our nation’s veterans and military families, and to give back to Boot Campaign’s mission-driven programs.
“At Boot Campaign, we want every man or woman who has laced up their boots in service to our country to know that their life, their service and their sacrifices matter,” said Shelly Kirkland, CEO of Boot Campaign. “Partnering with Kubota gives Americans another way to outwardly honor the stories of those who served, while also supporting veterans seeking care and treatment through our individualized programs.”
Earlier this year, Boot Campaign representatives and board member Johnny Joey Jones joined Kubota at its annual dealers’ conference, Kubota Connect 2024, to announce the partnership internally to Kubota’s 1,100 dealers nationwide and to share more about the organization’s mission and why giving back is so important.
