Photo Provided Ryan Wickes, factory sales representative from Subaru of America; Louis Thomas of Lou Thomas Subaru; Brenda Paden of Lou Thomas Subaru and Maj. Matthew J. Riley of the Parkersburg Salvation Army. Subaru of America presented the Parkersburg Salvation Army with a check for $16,087 on Wednesday.

PARKERSBURG — A donation from a local auto dealership will help the Parkersburg Salvation Army help those in need locally.

Representatives of Lou Thomas Subaru presented Maj. Matthew J. Riley, the commander of the Parkersburg Salvation Army, with a check for $16,087 for the local chapter.

Andy Thomas, finance manager for Lou Thomas Subaru, said between November and January people who bought a new car from them could choose a charity to benefit and Subaru would give $250 to that charity from each sale through a promotion called “Share The Love Event.”

“For the last three years, Subaru has run this event,” he said. “Anyone who buys a car from November to January can pick one of a number of charities to contribute to.”

The charities to contribute to range from the Salvation Army to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), United Way and Meals On Wheels, Thomas said.

The dealership told people that contributions to the Salvation Army would remain local which helped them decide to pick that organization, he said.

“The Salvation Army has been the biggest one for this event,” Thomas said of organizations people want to donate to.

Over the last three years, Lou Thomas Subaru has contributed almost $52,000 to the Parkersburg Salvation Army with $16,139 in 2014, $19,653 in 2015 and $16,087 in 2016.

“Being able to donate to a charity like this makes a lot of people feel good,” Thomas said.

Riley said the money would be used for general operations.

“We are seeing a lot more people now,” he said. “This money could not have come at a better time.”

Riley, who has been in the Parkersburg area for around a year, said he is always impressed with the support the Salvation Army gets from the community and from local businesses, like Lou Thomas Subaru.

“We are overwhelmed and touched by their generosity,” he said.

The local Salvation Army has 22 people in its shelter now and is serving 50-70 people regularly in the soup kitchen, Riley said.

Many people seeking help are families with small children, Riley said.

The Salvation Army’s social service programs help people pay bills and meet other needs to prevent them from becoming homeless.