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An increasing number of children stay at home with no supervision after school or during school breaks. They are left to find their own activities and companionship. The Boys and Girls Clubs offer a safe, positive, and productive place for children to go during these times. Staff and volunteers offer free tutoring and homework help, and youth members participate in activities that focus on five core areas: Character & Leadership, Education & Career, Health & Life Skills, The Arts, and Sports, Fitness, & Recreation. Since 2004, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Greater Chippewa Valley have positively impacted the lives of more than 5,200 youth, expanding from one club in Eau Claire to locations in Chippewa Falls, Black River Falls, and Menomonie. The Boys and Girls Clubs wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the support of our community. If you’re interested in learning more, or if you would like to support the club by donating or volunteering, visit their website and make a difference in a child’s life today.

You may not realize it, but more 70,000 people living in west-central Wisconsin relied on food received from programs supplied by Feed My People Food Bank in 2014. Feed My People Food Bank bridges the gap between food manufacturers and hunger-relief organizations to help put food on the table for these families. Feed My People “rescues” food before it goes to waste and distributes it to food pantries, community meal sites, shelters, etc. They also assist Meals on Wheels with distributing food boxes to individuals who are homebound, and provide over 2,000 meals to students on the weekends when school meals aren’t available. Their large warehouse and six refrigerated trucks enable them to distribute food to these other hunger-relief organizations. And, without the surrounding community, none of it would be possible. Local farmers, retailers, and companies donate food and products, while individuals can help by donating their time and money. According to Assistant Director, Suzanne Becker, “every $1 donated equals $10 worth of food.” If you’re interested in volunteering or donating, visit the Feed My People website!

It’s that time of year again. The weather is getting cooler, Holiday shopping commercials have begun, and 98.1 is playing Christmas music already. In addition, We are excited to bring back Markquart Gives Back. Markquart has been blessed by the support of a great community, and now we want to give back by helping organizations that serve those who need it most. So, from November 12 until Christmas, Markquart Motors and Markquart Toyota are donating $100 for every new and used vehicle we sell. We have a goal of $50,000, and the money will support the following organizations: The Boys and Girls Club of the Greater Chippewa Valley Providing a safe, positive and productive place for youth to go after school and during school breaks. Feed My People Food Bank Rescuing food before it is wasted & distributing it to people in our community who struggle with hunger. Chippewa Valley Free Clinic & Open Door Clinic Providing basic health services to members in our community with no reasonable health care alternative. With your help we hope to raise over $50,000!

On Tuesday, November 3 5ive for Women of the Chippewa Valley is hosting a workshop and networking event at Markquart Toyota. This is a free event for women who’d like to learn more about balancing the five areas of faith, family, friends, fitness, and finance. A reception starts at 6:30 PM, and the Publisher & Editor in Chief, Jen Theisen, will speak at 7 PM on how a community of women can achieve more than they can imagine! There is no dress code, just come prepared to learn and meet some other great ladies! 5ive for Women is the Chippewa Valley’s premier magazine for women aimed at empowering and uplifting women through insightful articles and thought-provoking features. The magazine emphasizes the five areas of faith, family, friends, fitness, and finance.

This year’s Women Rock event will take place at Florian Gardens on Wednesday, October 28, 2015 from 4 PM – 9 PM. This is a ladies night out that supports the fight against breast cancer and all proceeds go to the American Cancer Society. There are a ton of fun activities and great hors d’oeuvres planned. Enjoy a Lickety-Split Suppers demonstration by Chef Laurel of Mega Co-op, a wine-tasting experience, live and silent auctions, and Ask the Doctor presented by Mayo Clinic Health System. Then, enjoy the 5ive for Women Fashion Show followed by dessert! The entry fee is $10 at the door, and all attendees will receive a special gift. This is a great way to spend a night out with other women all while supporting a great cause! Visit spectrumwomenrock.com, and the Women Rock Facebook page to stay up-to-date on this awesome event!

The creativity and imagination of children is limitless, and sometimes they come up with the best of ideas. Toyota embraces this by hosting the Toyota Dream Car Art Contest. The contest asks children from all over the world to submit artwork showcasing their ideas about the future of transportation by illustrating their dream cars. The entry period runs October 2015 through the end of March 2016 for children 15 years old and younger. The artwork can be made using any drawing medium so long as it’s not digital. Judges are looking for artwork that shows children’s dream cars in a setting that supports their ideas of the future. Top finalists from various countries and regions will enter into the World Contest, where a jury in Japan will reward Gold, Silver, Bronze and Best Finalist awards. The winners are then invited to Japan in August to attend the Award Ceremony. For the official guidelines and to see previous winners, visit the Dream Car Art Contest website!

We’re thrilled to announce that we have started renovating our service department. These upgrades include making our service lanes 50% bigger, and increasing space for staff.  This will help reduce congestion in our service lanes and aid in the flow of traffic. If you are in need of service, don’t worry, our service department will remain open at full capacity. So if you’re in need of an oil change, brake replacement, or any other vehicle service, do not hesitate to schedule your appointment with us! Thank you to our loyal customers for helping us grow this business. We look forward to being able to better serve you with a larger facility.

This year, there are 26 athletes from the Midwest making the trip to the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles, CA. Toyota is the official automobile partner of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games. The company will provide 400 vehicles for LA2015, which is the organizing committee of this great event. At Markquart Toyota, we are also proud to sponsor these talented athletes! Leading up to the games, the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics will take place. The torch will start in Greece and make its way to the Opening Ceremony, which will take place Saturday, July 25, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. There will be 7,000 athletes from over 177 countries competing in this year’s events. The games will last for 9 days and include sports from aquatics to equestrian and badminton to powerlifting.  For each event, Special Olympics, “believes in recognition of each athlete’s efforts and presents medals for first through third places, and ribbons signifying fourth through eighth places ( source).” The closing ceremony will take place Sunday, August 2, 2015 and celebrate not only the athletes, but all of Special Olympics’ supporters as well. Again, we are very proud to be a sponsor of this awesome event and wish all of the athletes the best of luck!

We are excited to share that we have expanded our new and used car lots at Markquart Toyota near Eau Claire. With a larger lot comes a larger selection of some of your favorite Toyota models like Camry, Corolla, Highlander, and RAV4. With more room for vehicles, you can expect to see new arrivals more often. So whether you’re browsing new inventory or used inventory online, or you’re at our dealership, you’ll find an even better selection! If you’re looking for a one-stop-shop auto buying destination, Markquart Toyota is it! Even after you purchase a new or pre-owned vehicle from our dealership, we can take care of your service needs as well! We have a full-service auto maintenance and repair department for oil changes, brake replacement, tire rotations, and more. Isn’t it nice to know that you can get your car serviced at the same place you purchased it? With our full range of new Toyota vehicles and a wide selection of pre-owned and Toyota Certified Used vehicles, you have to come check out our newly expanded lot. We look forward to helping you find your next vehicle, and then taking care of it as well! >> Browse New Toyota Inventory <<

Summer is a great time for road trips because the kids are out of school, the weather is nice, and you don’t have to worry about snowy, icy roads. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t steps you can take to make sure you have a safe, fun road trip, which is why we put together this list of summer road trip tips! Get your vehicle inspected. Stop in to Markquart near Eau Claire to get your oil changed. During this time a multi-point vehicle inspection will be performed, which will make sure your vehicle is in good condition for a road trip. Check your tires. These will be taking most of the wear and tear this summer. Make sure they have air, the treads aren’t worn down too much, and that you have a spare. Create an emergency kit: This goes beyond the first aid kit. Also include things like nonperishable food items, water, a flashlight, tools, and other items that you’ll know you’d want if you broke down in the middle of nowhere while it’s dark outside. Have a co-pilot: The driver needs to focus on one thing only – driving. The co-pilot should be responsible for controlling the music, navigating, and anything else that would distract the driver. Once you get these necessary safety precautions out of the way, it’s time to have some fun! Make sure to have snacks readily available to avoid filling up on too much fast food, and of course get your list of road trip games ready to go. Remember, the journey is half the fun, and if you set yourself up for smooth sailing you can enjoy peace of mind during your summer vacations.

Originally from Boyd, Tom has known the Eau Claire area his entire life. He got started in the auto industry at 13 when he started working for his step father’s parts shop. Eventually, he found his way to Markquart and the rest is history. Tom says he enjoys working at Markquart so much because of the company’s values and integrity, how the employees are treated well, and how good the people are to work with. Words of wisdom he has gained from his experience includes keeping an open mind, accepting change, and understanding how everybody’s roles work together in an organization. When Tom isn’t busy helping people find the right vehicle parts, he’s probably spending time outdoors with his wife Roxann, and daughter Rayna. The family enjoys fishing, gardening, and hanging out with their two dogs and cat. Tom also really enjoys hunting, trapping, and occasionally playing the guitar. An interesting fact is that Tom holds the record for the biggest white-tail buck ever shot with a bow in Chippewa County and the 26 th largest in the state of Wisconsin. The next time you’re at Markquart Toyota be sure to stop and help us thank Tom for the past 20 years. We look forward to what the future brings!

Randy has been part of the Eau Claire community since 2000 when he moved here from the Twin Cities to be the General Manager for TGI Friday’s. In 2008 he went back to school at UWEC. Randy has been involved in the auto industry ever since graduating with an MA in History. His favorite part about working at Markquart is taking care of his customers and finding them the perfect vehicle. Outside of the dealership, Randy spends his time with his wife, Jessica, and their children, Conor and Hannah.  Of course, the Jones’ chocolate lab, Jasper, is never far from the family. Randy has a passion for outdoor activities, especially wilderness hiking. He once hiked 200 miles from Yosemite to Mt. Whitney solo, and got college credit for doing so. If you’re in need of a new or new-to-you vehicle, stop in to Markquart Toyota and talk to Randy!