As the season of giving in Dowagiac shifted into gear this weekend with chamber’s Christmas Open House Weekend, another local institution was busy tuning up its own annual holiday tradition.

C. Wimberley Automotive Group kicks off its 2015 Feed the Hungry campaign Monday, with the company once again seeking $20,000 worth of donations from local businesses and residents. These donations will be used to purchase food for eight local food pantries and other organizations that support the hungry, said organizer Jim Allen.

“All the money goes toward food,” Allen said. “No one gets paid. I give five weeks of my life every year for this, and it’s the best ‘paying’ job I’ve ever had.”

As in previous years, all the money collected from the drive will stay within Cass County and surrounding area, Allen said. The business will once again be able to purchase food for the pantries at 25 cents on the dollar; if they reach their $20,000 goal, they will be able to buy $80,000 worth of supplies, Allen said.

Businesses who contribute to the cause will once again have the opportunity to have their logo displayed on two dealership vehicles being used to promote the charity drive, which will be parked at various locations throughout Dowagiac over the next few weeks.

The local car dealership has organized the donation drive for the last several years, after employee Dale Dandurand devised the idea as a way for the company to give back the community. Raising $2,000 in its first year, Allen and other volunteers collected $20,000 last year, and are seeking to match that amount again this year.

Allen has already been hard at work getting this year’s drive off the ground. By Thursday evening, he had already gotten nearly 40 businesses to commit to donating to this year’s drive, he said.

People who are interested in contributing to this year’s campaign are encouraged to call Allen at (269) 779-1691. People can drop off donations at 1st Source Bank or C. Wimberley Ford.

“We need your help, as a community,” Allen said. “If everyone just gave $1, we would be there.”