[July 22, 2011] 'Please, please vote for us': Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge vies for truck in online contest Tweet DESTIN, Jul 21, 2011 (Northwest Florida Daily News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge is seeking the public's help to win a new Toyota truck. The animal refuge is one of 500 nonprofit organizations competing in the 100 Cars for Good competition on Facebook. According to the website, Toyota wants to salute do-gooders by giving 100 cars over 100 days to organizations that could really use a new set of wheels. "We could really use a truck for some of our rescues," said Amanda Wilkerson, director of the refuge. "Recently, we had to transport a live whale in the back of an SUV." In the contest, five nonprofits compete daily and the one with the most votes wins the vehicle of its choice. Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge will be voted on today on Facebook. "We would really appreciate the support of our community to ensure that we can continue to help wildlife across the Emerald Coast," Wilkerson said. "A lot of the staff and volunteers use their own vehicles to transport." She said a truck would help with large animals, sea turtle rescues and all other operations the refuge participates in on a regular basis. For the competition, the nonprofit submitted a video on what it does and why it does it. Wilkerson said the group was shocked when it qualified to be one of 500 competitors. She said more than 5,000 organizations submitted videos. Wilkerson added that even if the wildlife refuge doesn't win, another worthy organization will receive a vehicle. She said there's no loser in a competition like that. "All the charities are great," she said. "I watch their videos and think, 'I want to vote for them.' " Still, she said she is urging residents to log on and vote. "It would help us continue our mission and the work we are so proud to do," Wilkerson said. "Please, please, please vote for us." To see more of the Northwest Florida Daily News or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.nwfdailynews.com. Copyright (c) 2011, Northwest Florida Daily News, Fort Walton Beach Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]