Echo Bear Cat donates equipment to Alabama tornado victims

Bruce Wright, owner of Wright’s Equipment Company, Rainsville City Councilman Fred Bobo and Rainsville Police Chief Charles Centers prepare to unload a new Echo Bear Cat wheeled vac, which was donated to aid in the community’s rebuilding efforts.

Working in conjunction with a distributor and three dealers, Echo Bear Cat donated more than $10,000 worth of equipment to several communities in Alabama affected by the April tornadoes.

“We reached out to our dealers in the areas affected by the tornadoes to see if there was any way they could aid with the cleanup and rebuilding efforts,” said Dave Smith, director of dealer sales for Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation Inc., an Echo Bear Cat distributor in Birmingham, Ala. “We were excited to have three of our dealers agree to make donations.”

Norman Bonds, owner of Bonds Appliance Lawn & Garden, Guntersville, Ala., donated two Echo Bear Cat wheeled vacuums to the City of Guntersville, Ala. Mike Bush, head of public works, and Ken Ard, Guntersville parks and recreation director, were presented with the wheeled vacuums. Both said that the donated equipment would be put to use immediately.

Charlie Singley, of Singley Small Engine & Equipment, Tuscaloosa, Ala., donated two Echo Bear Cat wheeled vacuums to the City of Tuscaloosa, Ala. The wheeled vacuums were presented to Jimmy Sexton, fleet manager for the City of Tuscaloosa. Sexton said the equipment will be very helpful with the community’s cleanup and rebuilding efforts.

Also Bruce Wright, owner of Wright’s Equipment Company, Rainsville, Ala., donated two Echo Bear Cat wheeled vacuums to community service departments in the City of Rainsville, Ala. One wheeled vacuum was presented to officials of Plain View School; officials said it will be sometime before the school will reopen, but the equipment will help with the cleanup efforts.  The other wheeled vacuum was presented to Rainsville city officials.

“Echo Bear Cat was excited to aid in the donation of equipment that will help with the cleanup and rebuilding efforts in Alabama,” said Dale Winkelman, director of Echo Bear Cat. “Many communities were affected by these storms, and hopefully, our small donation will make the cleanup process a little easier.”

Employees of Echo Bear Cat would like to express their condolences to the communities and residents of Alabama affected by the tornadoes.