Landstar Independent Agents and business capacity owners (BCOs) go the distance to make a positive impact on their local communities, especially when it comes to caring for the next generation. From basic nutritional needs to the needs of the critically ill to the need for emotional support from a furry friend, individuals in the Landstar network go the extra mile.

NOW SERVING

At Owens Transport, an independent Landstar agency in Houston, Texas, employees pack lunches to take from the office instead of to the office. Agent Rick Owens and his team volunteer to pack lunches for Kids’ Meals Inc. The organization’s mission is to end childhood hunger in Houston by delivering free healthy meals year-round to the doorsteps of Houston’s hungriest preschool-aged children. Every summer, the employees, their families and invited guests, including a few BCOs and customers, are asked to bring $20 worth of nonperishable food to an indoor picnic, where they all pack lunches to be delivered by Kids’ Meals.  

“The BCOs are so generous; they always bring more than they are asked,” says Barbara Hester, agency dispatcher and outreach coordinator. The agency also throws a holiday party to pack even more lunches because, over the school system’s winter break, Kids’ Meals also delivers to the older siblings who receive free lunches at school but might go without a meal while school’s out. According to kidsmealsinc.org, “every day an estimated 80,000 children in Harris County, Texas are unsure of their next mealtime. Harris County has the highest rate of child food insecurity in the nation for highly populated areas, meaning the children have limited or unreliable access to enough affordable, nutritious food.”

MAKING WISHES COME TRUE

Independent Landstar Agent Brian Vasquez exceeded his goal of raising $5,000 for the Make-A-Wish® foundation of Illinois in the 2024 Walk for Wishes fundraiser. It was the fifth year that Vasquez led a team in the event. By reaching out to family, friends and fellow Landstar agents, he and his team, #ForTheKids, contributed $6,075 to the cause, which helps create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. According to the organization, research shows that children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength needed to fight a critical illness. 

Vasquez was recognized as the number one individual out of the 100 top participants in the 2024 walk, and #ForTheKids was recognized as the top team. “I’ve been blessed in life to be a part of the Landstar family, run a business, work with my father, as well as have four healthy children,” says Vasquez. “With that, I try to do my part to give back to families that are less fortunate and have to deal with the emotional and financial hardships of having a child with a critical illness.” 

Over the years, Vasquez has helped grant wishes for eight children in the Make-a-Wish program. 

Andrew: 10-year-old diagnosed with aplastic anemia 

Jasmine: 15-year-old diagnosed with cystic fibrosis 

AJ: 10-year-old with osteosarcoma 

Carmella: 5-year-old who needed a liver transplant 

Mia & Maya: 6-year-old twins with infantile spinal muscular atrophy 

Liam: 13-year-old with Hodgkin lymphoma 

Nick: 17-year-old with B lymphoblastic lymphoma 

BUILDING EMOTIONAL SUPPORT 

As a member of the international motorcycle ministry, Heaven’s Saints, Landstar truck operator Tim Cricks, is proud to be a part of a Florida chapter that treats underprivileged children to a Build-A-Bear Workshop®.  

The original idea was to take two or three children to Build-A-Bear, a company where customers can make customized stuffed animals in store, from stuffing to accessorizing.  

“It's turned into a couple hundred children over the last seven or eight years,” says Cricks. “We pick a group home for children who can’t live with their family, set up a date with them, and then 60 to 70 guys on motorcycles and four or five pickup trucks all come rolling in. We help put the kids in the vans that the children's home uses to transport them. We give them a full motorcycle escort to the nearest Build-A-Bear. They get a bear, an outfit and a pair of shoes for it – the whole Build-A-Bear experience.” 

Cricks and members of the motorcycle group also arrange for lunch and cake pops to be donated for the children between bear building and shopping. “We also buy all the kids new shoes for school.” 

The event, says Cricks, has taken on a life of its own. “I've had other chapters from Michigan, Georgia and New Jersey call me to ask if they can use the idea. Our international board caught wind of it, and now they come from Georgia to be a part of it. It's a lot of fun, and every year that we have one, there's one of those moments that just makes every hair on your body stand up.”