Love IS Actually All Around

"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there – fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge – they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around."
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Quote sound familiar?  It's from one of the all-time greatest Christmas movies - Love Actually.

Here's the thing about the car business.  We hear people toss around the word "love" all of the time.  "I LOVE this Ford F-150."  "I LOVE the service at Monaco Ford in Glastonbury."  And so on and so forth.

Don't get me wrong - it makes us feel incredible to hear these expressions of love.  In some cases they are tied in with a product.  In others, with people and experiences.
 
But over the course of the past year (and surely countless times over the past 92 years that our family has been in business), we've been blessed to see the true meaning of love take so many different forms.

We've seen the families come in to make donations at our Toys for Tots drives.  

We've seen the active and retired members of our service - including our own brother - make countless sacrifices for our country and for people to be able to fall asleep soundly on Christmas eve and every night - knowing they are safe.

We've seen people "pay it forward" with anonymous donations.

We've witnessed people cry tears of joy at seeing the GOOD happening in the world around them.

It's one of the many, many reasons why Monaco Ford is PROUD to be so incredibly involved in our community and in non-profits throughout the area.

We don't do it to sell cars.  We don't do it to get kudos.  We do it because it's the right thing to do.  We do it because it makes you feel like a little kid on Christmas morning when you know you've done something to help someone else.

But all of the wonderful things we've been able to be a part of in the community wouldn't be possible without your help and support.  Not just your loyalty and dedication to Monaco Ford...but your involvement in the events we support.

Love actually IS all around.

Merry Christmas from our family at Monaco Ford to yours...wherever you are.

Saving Starfish and Toys for Tots

Ever hear the story of the guy and the starfish?

A man was walking along the beach one day, bending down and tossing starfish back into the ocean.  

Another man passing by saw him and asked what he was doing.

"All of these starfish washed up when the tide went out," said the man.  "If I don't throw these starfish back into the ocean, they'll all die."

"There must be millions of starfish washed up along beaches all over the world," said the second man.  "How can you POSSIBLY make a difference?"

The first man bent down and picked up another one.  Tossing it into the ocean he replied, "made a difference to THAT one."

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This past Monday, our family at Monaco Ford in Glastonbury held a toy drive.  Countless people came out to support Toys for Tots, bringing toys that the US Marine Corps will pass along to kids who might not have otherwise received any for Christmas.

Brad Davis from WDRC was there broadcasting live...sharing messages of hope that we can all use throughout the year - not just during the holiday season.

We will never have the opportunity to see the joy on the faces of the kids that receive the toys.  But events like this prove that sometimes it's even better to give than to receive.  

There wasn't a single person who brought in toys that wasn't smiling.  There wasn't a single volunteer that didn't have a big smile on their face when another donation came in.  And we believe there won't be a single child that receives these toys that doesn't also have a smile on his or her face.

This event, like so many others, wasn't about selling new or used vehicles or service at Monaco Ford in Glastonbury.  This wasn't about making money - this was about bringing together a community to support a great cause.  

We can't even count the amount of toys that were donated thanks to your generosity.  On Christmas morning, will there be toys given to EVERY child in need?  No.  But for each child that does receive one...we like to think: "Made a difference to THAT one."

Click here to watch a video of the Toys for Tots Drive at Monaco Ford in Glastonbury.

Helping Kids and Finding the Holiday Spirit

Our team at Monaco Ford was particularly excited to see the brand new Mustang that will hit showrooms next year.  There are a million reasons why…but we think one of the biggest reasons is something rather Freudian. 

At Monaco Ford in Glastonbury, we believe that deep inside each of us…there’s still a little kid.  And that little kid just started jumping up and down when seeing that new Mustang.

It’s that same little kid inside each and every one of us that we feel brings out some of the excitement during the holiday season.  No matter your age, it seems there’s still a little magic that December brings.

But for some…there’s more magic than for others.  Sadly, the economy has taken a toll on many local families – and Santa himself.  Many young boys and girls across the country aren’t as fortunate as others.

That’s why Toys for Tots was born.

Started by the U.S. Marine Corps, the program collects new, unwrapped toys and distributes them to kids in the community in which the campaign is conducted.  The idea isn’t just to deliver toys…it’s to deliver a message of hope.

On Monday, December 16, you can also help deliver that message of hope.  Monaco Ford will be collecting Toys for Tots in our showroom at 767 New London Turnpike in Glastonbury during a special event from 6am-10am.  If you can’t make it to the event, you’re more than welcome to swing by over the weekend and drop off a donation.

Help us make the holidays magical for boys and girls throughout the area.  Come support Toys for Tots at Monaco Ford in Glastonbury.

And by the way - don't forget to follow Monaco Ford on Facebook by clicking here.  We're not on there to sell cars...we are on there to have some fun - and you should be, too!