April 19, 2013—Caliber Collision Centers this week presented three Tucson, Ariz., residents coping with daily transportation challenges with refurbished vehicles through the National Auto Body Council's (NABC) Recycled Rides program.
The three recipients were selected by a committee of community leaders from more than 400 nominations submitted by Tucson community members.
The three recipients included Elena Rascon, a single mother of three and a survivor of a serious car accident; Angel Alvarez, a landscaper and handyman who often has to rely on public transportation to get to his various part-time jobs; and Chris and Terry Hernandez, parents to seven children, the youngest of whom was born with chronic renal failure and received a kidney transplant in June 2012.
All three Recycled Rides vehicles were donated by GEICO and refurbished by Caliber Collision associates, who volunteered personal time to repair the vehicles as a community service project.
“The response to our call for nominations was overwhelming,” said Patrick O’Neill, vice president of operations for Caliber Collision. “We are happy to partner with GEICO to donate three vehicles, but it was difficult knowing that so many more people struggle every day simply to get to work and take care of their families without reliable vehicles.”