In an effort to increase support for the U.S. Marines Toys for Tots program, Vision Source Midwest City in Okla. introduced the toy drive with a tasty kick-off event last month.

“Our goal was to bring awareness to Toys for Tots and that Midwest City Vision Source was the area donation location,” said Keely Rowe, marketing coordinator and stylist at Vision Source Midwest City, who oversaw the event.

By teaming up with Big Truck Tacos – a popular mobile eatery soon to be featured on Food Network’s “Great American Food Truck Race” – and planning the event during lunch, the optical practice assured they’d have a following. Vision Source Midwest City also opened its parking lot to Marine Corps representatives and members of the hockey team Oklahoma City Barons, both of whom greeted visitors with donations.

“We relied heavily on the ‘word of mouth’ of social media,” Rowe said. “We wanted to give our Twitter and Facebook followers an opportunity to become involved in a campaign within their community and to strengthen the relationship between the two of us as we aimed for a common goal.”

She added: “I like to think of as sowing seeds in the community. It let our neighbors know that we care and want to participate with them for causes they support.”

 

Big Truck Tacos set up along the side of the building
about an hour before the kick-off.

 

Staff Sgt Arthur Adame (l) with the
OKC Toys for Tots Coordinator (r).

 

Among the crowd waiting patiently in line for
Big Truck Tacos was one of Vision Source Midwest City’s
doctors John Smay, OD, (center), with Mary Walker,
secretary for the State Board of Optometry (front).

 

“Some of the great community donations!
There’s even a little wooden car that was hand carved
by someone in the area,” Rowe said.

 

Derrick the Mountain Lion, mascot of the
Oklahoma City Barons hockey team,
with Amanda Green and daughter.


— Delia Paunescu, Assistant Editor