Laciesha Powell, a single mother from Evanston, IL, received the life-altering gift of a fully refurbished 2020 Nissan Maxima, thanks to the National Auto Body Council (NABC) Recycled Rides program, Allstate and Gerber Collision & Glass of Oak Lawn, IL.
The vehicle presentation marked a milestone in Powell's journey towards self-reliance.
"This is amazing and life-changing," Powell said, overwhelmed with emotion. "This car is beautiful and I am so grateful for this gift to my family. I can’t wait to surprise my daughter to pick her up after school."
Nominated by Tracy McKeithen, executive director of Family Promise Chicago North Shore, Powell's story is one of resilience and dedication. During the pandemic, Powell faced reduced work hours at a bank and struggled to make ends meet, eventually entering a shelter program. Through determination, she took classes to improve her employment prospects, worked part-time and volunteered locally.
The Recycled Rides program, initiated by the NABC in 2007, collaborates with various industry partners to repair and donate vehicles to individuals and families in need. To date, more than 3,300 vehicles valued at approximately $47 million have been donated.
The special event, attended by about 100 Gerber and Allstate team members, was held on the lawn of Gerber’s headquarters in Elmhurst, IL. The team at Gerber Collision & Glass, alongside additional partners like Advanced Remarketing Services, Cars for Charity and Copart, dedicated their time and resources to refurbish the donated vehicle.
