NABC Recycled Rides, Keri Coach Works, GEICO and Nassau BOCES donate vehicle to Air Force veteran

After Harris’s Air Force career, she pursued her passion for health and fitness by obtaining the necessary education and training to assist those with special needs through movement and exercise. This donation will provide Harris the independence and ability to succeed in her career and give her the means necessary to continue to help her community.

The presentation was held at the Keri Coach Works in Westbury, NY. GEICO donated the car through the Driving 4 Change Charity, as part of the NABC Recycled Rides® program. Nassau BOCES Barry Tech teamed up with Keri Coach Works to refurbish the car. Sponsors included Tire Town of Rockville Center, who donated four new tires and oil changes for life; VW Platinum of Hicksville donated a spare key, Parkway Car Stereo of North Babylon donated an automatic start feature; Enterprise provided a gas card, and Personal Touch Car Wash donated a detail on the car. “One year ago, Keri Coach Works was challenged by its peers at a national conference to participate in the NABC Recycled Rides® program, a program that refurbishes a vehicle for an individual or family in need,” said Randy Pullman, president of Keri Coach Works. “Following that conference, Keri Coach Works enlisted the help of Nassau BOCES Barry Technical School students to refurbish a 2013 VW Jetta, donated by GEICO. Keri Coach Works was honored to present Ms. Melanie Harris, a deserving Air Force Veteran, with a refurbished ride on Feb. 29th, along-side partners GEICO and Nassau BOCES Barry Tech. We would like to thank our sponsors including Tire Town of Freeport, Parkway Car Stereo of North Babylon, VW Platinum of Hicksville, Personal Touch Car Wash and Enterprise for their efforts and generous donations. We are proud of the team here at Keri Coach Works, as well as our partners and sponsors for our collective involvement in this program.” The recipient, Melanie Harris, is an Air Force Veteran serving in the Air Force National Guard for six years as a Senior Guardsman and two years in the active reserves. While in Afghanistan, Harris served on the flight line, where she worked with the electrical systems. While overseas, she realized her deep passion for health and fitness, participating in power- lifting competitions on base. Harris using the GI Bill continued her education and training in health and fitness. Now, she specializes in helping those with special needs maintain a healthy lifestyle with health, fitness, and movement. By providing her with a reliable means of transportation, she can now reach more clients per day by not having to rely on public transportation.ABOUT THE NATIONAL AUTO BODY COUNCIL The National Auto Body Council, celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2020, is the premier organization of collision industry partners dedicated to strategic networking opportunities that positively change lives in the communities we serve. The collaborative membership of the National Auto Body Council has gifted nearly 2,500 vehicles, provided extrication opportunities for more than 3,800 First Responders and contributed to thousands of distracted driving pledges in communities through NABC Recycled Rides, NABC First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.™) and the NABC Distracted Driving Initiative™. That effort equates to a 4:1 ROI in dollar value delivered from NABC™ membership dollars. The National Auto Body Council is changing the paradigm of how the collision industry works and is viewed. For more information, visit www.NationalautoBodyCouncil.org.