Association of Progressive Rental Organizations

Continental Offers Deals for Food Pantry Donations

Julie Harris (far left) from Manna Pantry proudly accepts donations from Continental Home Centers in Big Rapids, Michigan, presented by (L to R) Assistant Manager Diana Christansen, Store Manager Phil Thrush, and District Manager Nick Regier.

APRO member Continental Rental dba Continental Home Centers recently collected more than a full TON of nonperishable food items and over $800 in cash for local pantries and charities across Michigan through a Help Stock the Food Pantry Sale.

Continental’s deals-for-donations promotion offered either a $3 first-week payment or a $33 first-month payment on any new rental agreement to customers who gave either three cans of food or $5 cash to the effort.

“We wanted a sale to give back to our communities, especially organizations that help others,” said Continental General Manager Thomas Roupe. “The groups we contributed to told us many companies say they’ll help, but don’t follow through. We said we’d help, and our employees and customers really stepped up.”

All 24 Continental locations participated in the promotion, ultimately donating 2,119 pounds of food and $861 cash to a variety of local pantries and charities, including Feeding America West Michigan, Manna Pantry of Big Rapids, Otsego County Food Pantry, and United Way of Clare & Gladwin Counties, among others.

Roupe said that the company promoted the event via website banners, social media, and in-house signage, and that Continental employees focused in on building donations, rather than straight-up selling, to make the sale a spectacular success.

“All sales and promotions are about getting your people energized and motivated,” said Roupe. “My top-performing teams, which already have high energy and great teamwork, led the charge. But this is such a feel-good sale, it’s easy to generate companywide engagement.”

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Mike Tissot

Countryside Rentals Inc., dba Rent-2-Own

Mike grew up in the rent-to-own industry under the guidance of his father, former APRO President and RTO legend Darrell Tissot. For nearly 25 years, Mike’s innovative leadership has helped expand the family business to more than 40 stores across Ohio and Kentucky while also shaping the industry as a whole.

He has served as President of the Ohio Rental Dealers Association, an APRO board member and Treasurer, and President and Treasurer of the TRIB Group. His contributions have earned him the APRO President’s Award of Excellence and the title of APRO Rental Dealer of the Year.

Outside of RTO, Mike enjoys time at the lake house or in Orange Beach, Alabama, with his girlfriend, Angela Strong McCool. A passionate Cincinnati Reds fan, he rarely misses a game, whether watching or listening alongside his parents. He also takes every opportunity to visit Arizona, where his daughter is currently attending Arizona State University.