A U.S. Navy veteran received a fully refurbished 2019 Nissan Altima, marking a major milestone in his path to stability, thanks to the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides program and its industry partners.
On June 5 in Apple Valley, CA, Thomas Ellerstein was presented with the car, donated by Farmers Insurance and refurbished by Fix Auto Apple Valley.
Ellerstein, who was nominated for the program by the Orenda Veterans Project, has faced homelessness, health issues and a long-standing lack of reliable transportation, limiting his work opportunities. Despite these challenges, he has maintained steady employment but lacked the resources to purchase a vehicle.
The NABC Recycled Ride that Ellerstein received will allow him to carry supplies and tools to his worksites. His nominator at the Orenda Veterans Project said the vehicle will provide Ellerstein a much-needed boost, helping him to stay motivated, feel confident and know the odds are not stacked against him.
Farmers Insurance, a Level One partner of NABC, regularly donates vehicles to the program. Fix Auto, a Level One NABC member and part of the Driven Brands network, provided the repairs. Fix Auto operates more than 150 I-CAR Gold Certified collision repair centers across 14 states.
The donation is part of the NABC Recycled Rides program, which brings together companies across the collision repair industry to restore and donate vehicles to individuals and families facing financial and transportation challenges. Since its launch in 2007, the program has donated more than 3,500 vehicles, valued at approximately $51 million.
Additional partners contributing to Ellerstein’s vehicle donation included Auto Glass Now, Valley Hi Nissan, Sherwin Williams, O'Reilly Auto Parts, LKQ, Aguiar's Towing, Advanced Remarketing Services, Cars for Charity, Enterprise and Copart.
