Luther's Come to the Rescue...and for It

The Luther family, known in the Twin Cities for their car dealerships, couldn’t have picked a better time to donate a Chevrolet Tahoe SUV to The Salvation Army.

"Five years ago we bought a brand new, fully loaded GMC Yukon - but we’ve put so many miles on it (nearly 200,000) that it needs to be replaced," said Special Events Manager Julie Orlando.

To the rescue – and for the rescue – came the Luther family last month when they donated a rust-free, ‘95 Tahoe with only 65,000 miles. The Salvation Army Northern Division will use the vehicle for its Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) division in Minnesota and North Dakota.  

"It really was a blessing ... we’re thrilled to have it and excited that the Luthers gave it to us," Orlando said.

In addition to EDS response, the truck will be used to transport staff, supplies and toys for The Salvation Army’s Christmastime “Adopt-a-Family” program. It also will be used to tow the world’s largest red kettle – “Big Sal” – during parades.

The donation was made possible by Cathy Luther, wife of Dan Luther. Not coincidentally, she volunteers full-time for Adopt-a-Family, a program she began helping three years ago by answering phones. Every since, her role has expanded dramatically.

“We really cannot do Adopt-a-Family without Cathy,” said Orlando, adding that Cathy spends hundreds of hours in November and December helping match toy donors with nearly 1,500 families in need. "She is a blessing."