August 9, 2018—Thanks to an anonymous donor and some donated work from a number of Gaston County, N.C., businesses, Kirk Davis now has a more conventional vehicle, reported the Gaston Gazette.
The local businesses, which include Pack Brothers Collision Center, J&J Upholstery, Stanley Towing and Collision Safety Consultants, along with the anonymous donor, gifted Davis a refurbished 2003 Cadillac. Four months ago, Davis was a homeless, retired military veteran living out of a Toyota 4Runner with no working air conditioning.
Davis, a native of Iowa, has had his share of setbacks since leaving the Marine Corps after eight years in 1988. When a local vehicle became available, the group of businesses that work together decided to give the vehicle away to a local veteran, said Collision Safety CEO Billy Walkowiak.
Davis received his new ride during a ceremony held at Pack Brothers on Monday. He spoke with the dozens of people who came to support him, including U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry and Mark Harris, a Republican candidate for the 9th U.S. House District, N.C. Sen. Kathy Harrington, R-Gaston, Belmont Mayor Charlie Martin, Cramerton Mayor Will Cauthen, Sheriff Alan Cloninger, Superior Court Judge David Phillips, District Court Judge Craig Collins and Belmont City Manager Adrian Miller.
Ronnie Pack of Pack Brothers agreed to pay the car insurance bill for Davis for the next year. Collision Safety Consultants will pay the property tax and tag, title and inspection fees for the next three years. Sammy’s Pub in Belmont provided food for the Monday’s event.
“The great thing about this is that everybody came together and everybody did something,” Walkowiak said.
