VIP Tires raises $6,070 for New Hampshire school district

WEST LEBANON, N.H. — The West Lebanon location of Auburn, Maine-based VIP Tires & Service has donated $6,070 to Lebanon-area schools, thanks to an Oil Changes for Education initiative that concluded in late October.

The program, which offered $10 oil changes with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the local school community, was launched during the grand opening celebration of the shop in August. During the six-week time span, VIP said that 607 consumers stopped in for $10 oil changes, accounting for the funds.

Lebanon School District Superintendent Joanne Roberts and Hartford School District Superintendent Thomas Debalsi received the check during presentation ceremony held Nov. 28.

These money will be split evenly between the Lebanon and Hartford School districts with each district receiving $3,035 to help support curriculum and school activity.

VIP moved into the West Lebanon store in August, extensively renovating the former City Tire facility. It hired seven local technicians and store managers. The location features 3,200 square feet and six bays, plus on-site storage for more than 1,500 tires. It offers full-service automotive maintenance, including brake repair, preventative maintenance, muffler and exhaust repair, multi-point vehicle inspections, wheel alignments, state inspections and oil changes.

"Finding a way to get involved in the local community is important to every VIP employee in our new West Lebanon store and to every employee in our company," West Lebanon store manager Jeremy Weigel said. "Giving back to the community is a big part of who we are as a company. This program has been wonderful and has allowed us to meet so many local residents."

VIP Tires & Service, a Quirk family-owned business for 93 years, operates 58 locations throughout Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts. It recently relocated its retail outlet in Claremont, N.H., to former car dealership property across the street from the previous locations.