Two U.S. Marine veterans were recently gifted fully refurbished vehicles, improving their ability to access work, medical care and daily necessities, thanks to the National Auto Body Council (NABC) Recycled Rides program, along with contributions from car donor GEICO and repair partner Benner’s Auto Body in Cranford, NJ.
The recipients, Andrew Lewis and Joseph Potter, were both selected by the New Jersey Veterans Network for their exemplary service and current needs.
Lewis, a single father and a student completing his master’s degree in social work, expressed profound gratitude for the 2017 Honda CR-V he received.
“Thank you guys so much. This is unexpected. I didn’t see this beautiful car coming into my possession, so I want to thank everyone that participated into helping this Marine out," Lewis said. "The National Auto Body Council, thank you for this wonderful car. It’s going to be in good use, will help me complete my master’s in social work and also help other veterans. But more importantly, it’ll help me get to places that I’ve struggled to get to up to now. Thanks again, I appreciate it and God bless America.”
Potter served in the U.S. Marines from 1982 to 1988, and then in the reserves from 1988 to 1996. His deployments included Okinawa, Japan; South Korea; Norway; Greenland and Denmark. Among his awards earned was the Sea Service Deployment ribbon.
Potter’s current car has more than 320,000 miles on it and although he takes good care of it, it is not expected to go much further. With his arthritic condition, he needs a reliable vehicle to get around. He was presented a 2020 Hyundai Elantra.
NABC Recycled Rides is a unique program in which businesses representing all facets of the collision repair industry team up to repair and donate vehicles to individuals and families in need of reliable transportation. Since the inception of the program in 2007, members of the NABC have donated more than 3,300 vehicles valued at some $47 million.
“Our company has a strong connection to the community, especially to our veterans,” said Joe O’Neill, president of Benner’s Auto Body. “We are blessed to be able to help them any way we can!”
Additional partners in the presentation include Advanced Remarketing Services, Cars for Charity, Copart, Enterprise and Sisbarro Towing.
