Ted Davis, owner of Airstream Adventures Northwest, stopped by the Tents for Troops & RV’s Too (T4T) booth at the RV Dealers Association Conference/Expo in Las Vegas earlier this month and spoke with T4T volunteer Trevor Wilson (former US Navy SEAL 2006-2016) and full time RVer.
After speaking with Wilson, Davis agreed to make a contribution to the group’s “RV Loaner” program, but it was not the $1 per RV T4T was asking for. Davis said he felt that was not enough, so he plans to donate $10 for each Airstream trailer sold at his dealerships to help fund the T4T RV Loaner program. Airstream Adventures Northwest, with dealerships in Seattle, Portland, Ore., and Boise, Idaho, has the largest Airstream inventory in the world.
“This donation is just huge for us,” said T4T Founder Charlie Curry.
T4T started at Toutle River RV Resort in Castle Rock, Wash., eight years ago and has grown into a nationwide network of RV Parks and Campgrounds all providing free RV sites to active duty and retired troops and their families. The RV loaner program was a natural extension of the program. T4T wants to be sure that all troops and their families are able to take an RV vacation regardless of their ability to borrow or rent an RV.
Through the program, RV Dealers and OEMs are encouraged to donate $1 for each RV they build or sell. RV dealers also may offer retail buyers the opportunity to donate a buck as well. The program potentially could generate $3 every time a new RV hits the road.
Larger donations such as Davis’ and donations of RVs of any type, size or age are always welcome too.
Funds raised will be used to acquire new or used travel trailers, which will be set up and fully outfitted in T4T parks nationwide. Each unit will provide as many as 50 or more military families per year a vacation they will never forget.
Newmar was the first OEM to join the program, which now has two OEMs and six RV dealers onboard.
For more information or to make a donation, call 503-425-9105 or e-mail tentsfortroops@aol.com.