September 15, 2015
CARSTAR FOREST HOME AUTO BODY DONATES CAR TO VETERANS EMPLOYMENT ALLIANCE AS PART OF NATIONAL AUTO BODY COUNCIL RECYCLED RIDES® PROGRAM
MILWAUKEE, WI (September 15, 2015) – CARSTAR Forest Home Auto Body has donated a 2009 Dodge Caravan to the Veterans Employment Alliance as part of the National Auto Body Council’s (NABC) Recycled Rides® program.
Erie Insurance provided the van, and restoration was handled by Marty and Debbie Zabel, owners of CARSTAR Forest Home Auto Body in Milwaukee, WI, as well as their son who did all of the paint work. The Veterans Employment Alliance will use the van to shuttle veterans to and from work.
“We would like to thank all of those that participated in the donation of the van to the VEA Center on behalf of Veterans & Families in Crisis,” said Ken Davis, Director of the Veterans Employment Alliance. “Again, many thanks on behalf of our brothers and sisters preserving freedom in America.”
The van was given away in front of thousands of people at the Hiller Ford 6th Annual MACC Charity Fund Car Show on September 13.
“It was meant to be,” said Debbie Zabel, owner of CARSTAR Forest Home. “It turned out to be such a tremendous blessing for the recipients. There were thousands of people there. They allowed us to use the PA system, so the van was given away in front of everyone”
The Veterans Employment Alliance is a nationwide workforce readiness, research, development and mentoring network that matches veterans with hiring managers from some of the largest corporations for the purpose of finding a career and not just a job. Transitioning from the military to the civilian sector can be difficult, but the VEA is dedicated to helping veterans develop the valuable relationships, key skills and action plans needed for success in private enterprise.
Recycled Rides® is a nationwide community service project whereby members of the National Auto Body Council (NABC) repair and donate recycled vehicles to families and service organizations in need in their own communities. Recycled Rides recruits collision repairers, insurers, paint suppliers, parts vendors and others, to contribute in their own, yet synergistic ways. The number of CARSTAR stores who participate in the program has grown steadily since it began. In 2014, CARSTAR locations delivered nearly 20 vehicles to families in need.
Pictured from left to right: Jeff Parmeter - Erie Insurance, Marty Zabel- CARSTAR Forest Home, C.J. Brown-VEA, Sue Gross-VEA volunteer.