As the economy in the United States continues to improve, community-based charitable contributions are once again a focus for local merchants. For Connecticut-based A Better Way Wholesale Auto, charitable contributions in 2012 meant reaching out to local organizations that directly benefit parks and recreations, the underprivileged, those who have served in public safety roles, and our nation's brave veterans.

A Better Way Wholesale Auto donated more than $12,000 in 2012 to several organizations, including those dedicated to public safety such as the Middlebury Volunteer Fire Department, Prospect Police Explorers, the Fraternal Order of Police, the Naugatuck Police Explorers, Waterbury Police Explorers, and the Naugatuck Police Union. These organizations not only take care of their own, but also provide community outreach programs to spread awareness of public safety issues in the Naugatuck Valley and New Haven County.

A Better Way Wholesale Auto also donated to the following local veterans organizations: Veterans of Foreign War, No Vet Left Behind, Support Our CT Veterans, and the Vietnam Veterans Association. At a time when the U.S. is experiencing significant numbers of veterans returning from multiple tours in the Iraq and Afghanistan combat theaters, A Better Way Auto feels that is important to support those organizations that focus on welcoming our brave veterans. This is even more important at a time when prosperity in our country has been decimated by the financial crisis.

Public recreation spaces are also crucial during times of economic hardship since they provide relaxation and encourage family activities. To this end, A Better Way provided cash gifts to the Winsted Recreation Department as well as to Naugatuck Parks and Recreation.

Stop & Shop and A Better Way Auto Team Up

The most sobering statistic left behind by the Great Recession is the high number of Americans who are still receiving food stamps; in early 2013 there are more than 20 million recipients. The Naugatuck Valley and Connecticut are not impervious to the economic downturn, and not all underprivileged residents are able to get food stamps or to make ends meet in terms of putting food on their tables.

In 2012, A Better Way Auto purchased more than $8,000 in gift cards from the popular Stop & Shop supermarket chain. These cards were distributed directly by A Better Way to underprivileged members of the community who were able to take them to Stop & Shop and get groceries. The involvement of A Better Way Auto in this regard stepped up considerably right before the holidays; in November 2012, the number of gift cards purchased from Stop & Shop totaled more than $6,000.

In the past, A Better Way Wholesale Auto has donated cash gifts to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through its Connecticut network. For 2013, A Better Way Wholesale Auto intends to continue donating to local organizations and to focus on programs that directly benefit the community such as the strategic partnership with Stop & Shop. As a leader in used car sales in the Naugatuck Valley, A Better Way Auto feels that charitable work is a great way to connect with its customers and the community. Read more about A Better Way Wholesale Auto in Connecticut - 2012 Charitable Contributions