Lake Charles Branch Leads With their Heart to Help Their Community

Fans of the Gridiron – you might know this name. Dwight Harrison was born and raised in Beaumont, Tex., and became a standout football player at Texas A&M University in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In 1971, he was drafted by the Denver Broncos and went on to play ten seasons in the National Football League on teams including the Broncos, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Colts and Oakland Raiders.

Recently, Dwight has fallen on hard times and suffers from post-concussion syndrome and dementia. While he works to receive his pension and benefits, Dwight has moved into a skilled nursing facility due to his declining health.

Earlier this year, Jonathan Franks, the General Manager of EquipmentShare’s Lake Charles, La. rental yard, received a unique request from a hospice nurse. 

“A nurse by the name of Rob Spruell reached out to me and asked if we would be willing to donate to a fundraiser for a lift chair,” Jonathan said. “I asked more questions and found out the chair was for Dwight Harrison and it cost about $700.”

“I figured instead of donating toward the chair, we’d just  buy one with our branch’s giving back budget,” Jonathan said. He was then able to deliver the recliner with a lift motor to the facility where Dwight Harrison now lives.

“This was something we could do as a team for someone to improve their quality of life – someone who gave so much to his team,” Jonathan said. “Seeing him comfortable and happy with the new chair was amazing. Not to mention, it was an honor to meet someone who led such an incredible football career.”

That’s not all the Lake Charles location has done to give back to their surrounding community, though, earning themselves the 2022 EquipmentShare Community Hero Award. The award is designed to recognize team members and others in the community dedicated to building better, stronger communities through their talent, treasure and time. 

Over the last few years, the Lake Charles location has given back in several ways including:

• Purchased chainsaws for the Texas Baptist Ministries for storm clean up
• Raised money during the March Heart Healthy Chili cook-off and donated $150
• Sponsored a family with four children at Christmas time and fulfilled every request on the list 
• Collected two “buckets” of coats during the “Buckets of Joy” coat drive in December 2021 for those in need
• Donated $260 to Bikers Against Child Abuse

In total, the Lake Charles branch has given back more than $1,000 in the last year to its local community.

“We take giving back seriously at this branch and we’ll do what we need to do to give to those who need it most,” Jonathan said.

EquipmentShare salutes the Lake Charles location for embodying our core values and sharing their time, energy, chili recipes and funds to make their community a better place to live. As the recipient of the first Community Hero Award, the branch earned a special plaque to display at their yard, a celebratory team lunch and $2,000 to reinvest into their community. 

To find out more about charitable giving at EquipmentShare please visit our website at equipmentshare.com

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