The National Auto Body Council (NABC) Recycled Rides program, in partnership with GEICO and Joe Hudson Collision Center-Prairieville, presented a 2020 Hyundai Elantra to Issac Jones, a New Orleans resident rebuilding his life after prison.
The donation took place July 25 during the National Urban League Conference.
Jones was 45 when he enrolled in the Urban League of Louisiana's (ULLA) Pathway Home 3 Adult Re-entry Program. After release from prison, Jones encountered the challenges of workforce re-entry, and his path to employment was filled with uncertainty. His job as an overnight stocker kept him afloat but barely.
The Urban League workforce program has been a beacon of hope for him. Jones completed Urban League's four-week Career & Workforce Fundamentals training, where he honed vital soft skills such as critical thinking, teamwork and problem-solving in a work-simulated environment. While in the program, Jones earned his CDL credential and was connected to employment, and now is currently employed as a CDL driver.
Jones currently lives with his mother, who has helped him with transportation because his 2009 Nissan Altima is in need of engine repair, brakes and a muffler.
“This car will really help me on my path to independence,” said Jones. “I really appreciate it and what I’ll be able to do with this gift. Thank you to everyone for helping me. With this car, I don’t have to depend on other people for help and can start helping others. God bless you all.”
The NABC Recycled Rides program has been making a difference since 2007, with more than 3,300 vehicles donated to individuals and families in need. The program brings together businesses from across the collision repair industry to refurbish and donate vehicles, providing recipients with the means to overcome transportation barriers and achieve greater independence.
The presentation was made possible through the contributions of several partners, including INA Towing, which provided multi-state towing for the vehicle, Cars for Charity, Advanced Remarketing Services, Copart and Enterprise.
