It's all about people over profits for auto detailing business owner at Thanksgiving time
Local veterans, local and state police officers, firefighters and other heroes as well as anyone they want to help should feel welcome.
That's how Arnold and Melissa Chapman feel.
When Arnold Chapman decided last year that they should give back to their local heroes by offering a free Thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving Day, his wife stepped up with the offer to make all the food.
This year, they want to keep it going and make it an annual tradition and have scheduled the Second Annual Heroes Thanksgiving Dinner from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19. The buffet will be set up in the middle of the shop located at 1040 Reed Road in Dartmouth. The food will again be homemade by Melissa.
“We both love to give,” he said. “When we go to restaurants, we always take care of our servers and let them know how grateful we are for what they do. I just believe in gratitude and that people should know that you appreciate them.”
Chapman, the owner of Elite Auto Detailing in Dartmouth, will clear out the shop to make room for a buffet Thanksgiving dinner for the men and women who have to work on Thanksgiving and may be away from their families.
“It’s a way to serve those who serve us and also give them the appreciation they deserve,” he said.
It was an impromptu decision last year so this year the plans are even bigger. Last year they gave out 20 dinners and this year they are looking to give out between 30 and 50 meals, having checked in with local veterans’ groups and emergency responders. One of their best customers, named Julia, will help out.
All about the idea
Chapman said they believe in people over profits.
Chapman said he runs his businesses differently from most people because he believes that profits come second because he’s all about being a community-based business and supporter of people over profits.
“I don’t really follow profits first like a lot of businesses,” he said. “I look at profits as being a secondary thing because to me we’re a community first business. Obviously, you need profits to stay in business, but you also can’t be in business without the community’s support.
He said they love to honor the police, the firefighters, the military and other people who make sacrifices every day for people they don’t know.
On Father’s Day he’ll buy breakfast for police officers. They will donate stuffed toys to the police and firefighter departments to bring on calls to give to children to help reduce trauma.
A desire to give
Chapman has been buying St. Jude Bears - both plush bears named Miles and puppies named Mae - from KAY Jewelers in Dartmouth to give away in recognition of the company’s efforts to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital during the holidays. KAY started this program in 1999. So did he.
Recently he bought an additional 80 stuffed bears and dogs from KAY’s store in Dartmouth to give out and said he plans to return for more as often as he can. He said he never claims the expense on his taxes because that’s not charity.
“My rule is if you’re expecting it back in your taxes then that wasn’t charity in the first place,” he said.
He said everybody should feel welcome. Anyone interested in reaching Chapman can call Elite Auto Detailing at 774-202-2523.
“We’re committed to this community and bettering this community and we’re going to continue to do our part using our profits to help better it,” he said.
Standard-Times staff writer Kathryn Gallerani can be reached at kgallerani@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @kgallreporter. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Elite Auto Detailing owners say thanks to heroes for Thanksgiving
