Across 31 countries, Ford dealerships recently rallied around a common purpose: ensuring people have reliable access to food. In what became the World's Largest Auto Dealer Food Drive, part of the global launch of the Ford Building Together initiative, Ford dealerships collected over 2 million pounds of food, providing vital support to food banks and pantries worldwide.

The scale underscores a pressing global challenge: food security. According to the World Health Organization, one out of 11 people around the world face the daily struggle of not knowing where their next meal will come from. For many, the approaching holiday season amplifies this concern. In Germany, the donations arrived at a crucial moment for local communities.

"The outpouring of support from Ford dealers could not have come at a better time. As we head into the holiday season, the need for donations always increases, and these contributions will make a tangible difference for many families," Friedrich von Schönfeld, CFO Caritas Germany, said.

This collective power of Ford dealers, working alongside their neighbors and customers, is what can be achieved when people unite for a common purpose. The initiative showcased powerful local collaboration. In Southeast Michigan, 45 Ford dealerships rallied together to support a single nonprofit, Forgotten Harvest. Their combined efforts ensured that the maximum amount of donations, which were brought to the nonprofit on pallets, helped fill the warehouse.

Across the country in Spokane, Washington, Wendle Ford alone exceeded its personal goal of 600 pounds, collecting an impressive 51,909 pounds of food. This was a team effort, with every department embracing the initiative and engaging in friendly competition to drive up totals. All items collected by customers and staff were donated to 2nd Harvest Inland Northwest, an organization with which Wendle Ford shares a long-standing partnership, including recent volunteer efforts to assemble Bite2Go kits for grade schools.

"We have a lot of hungry people here, and it feels good to know we're making a difference," said Debbie Good, director of organizational development at Wendle Ford. "We are incredibly proud that our donation will translate into more than 14,000 meals for our community."

The spirit of participation was truly global, with each market and dealership customizing their requested items to meet the specific needs of their food bank partners. In Europe, more than 122 tonnes of food was donated through more than 400 dealers across 14 countries, many dealers using the boot space in Ford electric vehicles, as well as Ford E-Transit vehicles as a donation point.

While most donations focused on nonperishable goods, Ben Morgenrood Auto in South Africa took a unique approach, collecting 1 ton of fresh vegetables that were immediately distributed. Other items commonly requested in addition to food included clothing and personal care products such as socks, soap, and diapers.In South America, dealers collected nearly 700,000 pounds of food, and Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru, achieved 100% dealer participation.

This global food drive powerfully demonstrates the core mission of Ford Building Together: to build and rebuild communities. By partnering with key national nonprofits, such as Feeding America in the U.S., Ford Building Together amplifies its impact, reaching deeper into communities where support is most needed. This global collaboration, uniting Ford and its dealers, underscores a continuous commitment to fostering positive change, addressing critical needs, and creating a lasting difference in the lives of people around the world.

Caroline Pernot is director of Global Dealer Community Engagement at Ford.