Rent-2-Own Makes Kindness a Month-Long Mission

Four people stand smiling in front of a Sugartree Ministries sign; two hold up an oversized check for $500 from R2O to Sugartree Ministries. — The Wilmington, Ohio, store contributed to the Sugartree Ministries Food Distribution Center.

APRO member Countryside Rentals Inc. dba Rent-2-Own (R2O) recently held its second annual Kindness Month, an initiative that gives R2O stores the opportunity to choose and perform an act of kindness for an organization or individual in need within their community.

R2O began the initiative last year as a way to celebrate the company’s 40^th anniversary, and it was so popular that they decided to continue the goodwill event every August.

“For Rent-2-Own, these aren’t simply communities where we operate stores,” said Owner Mike Tissot. “They’re home – our employees live here, our customers are our neighbors, our children attend the same schools. We pass each other at the grocery store, sit next to each other at Friday night football games, and support many of the same local groups. That’s why community involvement has always been an important part of our company culture. At the end of the day, helping nice folks has always been at the heart of what we do and who we are.”

Kindness Comes in Many Forms

A group of high school band members stand together smiling, some holding their instruments, while a woman at center holds up a check. — *The Troy, Ohio, team paid band fees for students at Troy High School.*

Four people stand smiling in front of a brick building; two of them hold up an oversized check for $500 from R2O to the No Limits Foundation. — *The Troy, Ohio, team paid band fees for students at Troy High School.*

Across R2O’s 45 stores in Ohio and Kentucky, the acts of kindness and their recipients covered a broad spectrum.

Many teams chose to support local schools by donating school supplies, helping fulfill teachers’ wish lists, providing new shoes for students, paying for school lunches, or contributing to school programs, such as covering kids’ band fees or providing golf team refreshments.

Other youth-based organizations were also popular options for R2O kindness acts. Helping purchase properly fitting sneakers, donating to daycares, supporting teen centers, and contributing to Boys & Girls Clubs were all part of some stores’ efforts.

Not all kindness recipients were human – several R2O teams selected animal-welfare groups to benefit, including animal shelters, humane societies, and pet sanctuaries. One store sponsored adoption fees at their local humane society, helping animals not only receive care but also find their way into forever homes.

Several R2O stores used their Kindness Month efforts to honor the people who spend their days helping others. Police officers, sheriff’s departments, firefighters, EMTs, and 911 personnel were all recognized with snacks, supplies, furniture donations, or special response team contributions. Veterans were also remembered; a local American Legion Auxiliary received school supplies especially for children of veteran and military families, while a County Veteran Services program got some well-deserved support.

Three people stand smiling and holding up an oversized check for $500 from R2O to Child Focus. — *The Amelia, Ohio, team donated to its local Child Focus Head Start program.*

Two men smile as they hold up a lime green GO! Pantry sign, with a pallet of canned goods in front of them and a warehouse full of food behind them. — *The Amelia, Ohio, team donated to its local Child Focus Head Start program.*

Kindness with a Personal Touch

While other acts of kindness benefited shelters for the unhoused or survivors of violence, food pantries and programs, or nursing homes, some of the month’s efforts were much more personal.

One R2O team surprised people with pizza gift cards, treating passersby to lunch or dinner. Another group helped people cool off in the summer heat with free ice cream. One store went to the gas pumps to give drivers gas cards. Still another provided free haircuts.

“These were simple gestures, but that was part of the point,” noted R2O Marketing Director Jess Mahon. “Sometimes, kindness meets a serious need; other times, it can be just a little surprise that makes someone’s day a bit better.”

Two men and two women stand together smiling and holding small laundry baskets full of supplies, with many more baskets piled in front of them on the ground. — *The Morehead, Kentucky, store provided baskets of necessities for the Homeless Coalition.*

A man and woman stand on either side of a large cart holding many red bags full of school supplies. Behind them are signs reading “Russell Primary Red Devils.” — *The Morehead, Kentucky, store provided baskets of necessities for the Homeless Coalition.*

Two women stand under a Boys & Girls Clubs of Washington County sign, smiling and holding a check. — *The Marietta, Ohio, store contributed to its area Boys & Girls Clubs location.*

Several young men, an older man, and a woman stand smiling behind a table full of Gatorade bottles and other items. The men are wearing matching white polo shirts with London High School logos, and the photo has a London Raiders-themed frame around it. — *The Marietta, Ohio, store contributed to its area Boys & Girls Clubs location.*

About Rent-2-Own

Countryside Rentals Inc. dba Rent-2-Own is a rent-to-own company serving customers across Ohio and Kentucky. Founded in 1985, Rent-2-Own offers furniture, appliances, electronics, computers, mattresses, tires, outdoor equipment, and other household products through flexible rental-purchase agreements. Rent-2-Own has been an APRO member since 1985.