Unemployment is very high in southwest Virginia. Due to NAFTA, many people have lost their jobs and are experiencing hard times. Many don't have food or shelter. Michael Hill (known to locals as Steve) reserves a portion of his small car dealership’s profit from each car sale to purchase food for the needy from a local grocery store, which has agreed to sell the items at cost. Michael helps out annually with the local food drive that aims to fill a tractor-trailer truck with non-perishable foods for the community food pantry.

Michael is the only car dealer in the area who contributes to this cause. This year he challenged the large Chevrolet, GMC, and Ford dealers locally to match his pledge for food; none participated. This setback didn’t deter Michael, and it didn’t limit his efforts to just the food drive.

Michael has also made sure that in addition to helping the working poor and unemployed, he tended to a nearby homeless person who lives in a small tent near the dealership. Michael ensured that the homeless camper received canned food and warm clothes during the brutal winter months. Michael has donated food and canned goods to the Crossroads Homeless Shelter as well.

Obviously it is not a requirement for anyone selling cars to aid the less fortunate so directly. But Michael has a very giving spirit, and he is always willing to help out his community. Perhaps because Michael has not always been blessed with plenty in his own lifetime, he is especially aware of the needs of the less fortunate. I think that is why even though Michael has achieved success and a measure of comfort, he is so dedicated to making sure that the poor and less well-off in our community don't go hungry, and that they have what they need to survive during hard times.

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