Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Huntsville issued the challenge Wednesday but not before walking the walking first.

The company announced Toyota had donated $50,000 to the Community Foundation’s Emergency Relief Fund to help non-profit agencies in the fight against the novel coronavirus.

And the challenge to the Huntsville/Madison County community: Raise $500,000 for the emergency fund by May 5.

"We firmly believe, if we all come together, it can be achieved because we are strong together," said Kim Ogle, manager for external affairs at Toyota in Huntsville.

Toyota is working in collaboration with the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville on the Take 5 to Give 5 campaign that launched Tuesday, Ogle said.

The culminating day of May 5 has been designated as "Giving Tuesday" – a global day of giving and unity that typically occurs on the first Tuesday in December.

"However, due to COVID-19 and the crisis it has presented, Giving Tuesday is moved up to May 5 to meet critical needs," Ogle said. "The crisis has shaken our community non-profits to their core. The demand for services are higher than they have ever been. But many of our non-profits are really struggling with the growing needs that they get every single day.

"So the idea of Take 5 to Give 5 is very simple. Take five minutes to give any increment of $5 to support the cause. One hundred percent of all donations will go directly to the non-profits to support their emergency relief funds, helping community members with essential needs."

Ogle said 100 percent of donations will go to the non-profits emergency fund.

And Toyota has already covered 10 percent of the fundraiser's goal with what Ogle described as its "challenge grant to encourage others to support."

"We hope individuals will consider any increment – anything you're comfortable with donating, every dollar matters," she said. "Our challenge to the business community is to take 5 further with a larger contribution -- $5,000-plus."

More information can be found and donations can be made at communityfoundationhsv.org.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing is one of Huntsville's largest job providers with about 1,300 employees. A plant expansion that's under construction will grow employment to about 1,750. The Huntsville engine plant produces about one-third of all Toyota engines built in the United States.

Earlier this month, Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Huntsville said it was constructing and donating 7,500 face shields to local hospitals as well as 160 pairs of safety glasses and making a $25,000 donation to the United Way of Huntsville.