Brotherly Love: Recycled Rides Giving A Lift
By Ukee Washington
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Some Chester County high schoolers are doing a class assignment for more than a grade. They're doing it to give a working father a lift.
Fixing the busted rear bumper on the 2009 Toyota would cost $8000 at a body shop. So the driver's insurance company, Geico, decided it wasn't worth fixing. But it was worth donating to auto body repair students at Technical College High School in Downingtown.
"We've seen a lot worse coming into the shop, so I'm pretty sure it's a fixable car," said Kevin Cromwell, an 18-year-old senior.
They're donating it to Recycled Rides. Insurance companies, car dealers, and auto body shops across the country fix donated cars for needy families. These are the first high schoolers to participate.
"It's gonna look brand new when we're done," said instructor Mark Serfass. He says he wants to teach his students how important their work can be. "You can't have all takers in the world. You have to have some people who give back."
People like his former student, Joe Gathercole of 3D Collision Centers: "I'm the painter, so I volunteered to do the fun stuff and spray the paint on it and make it look good and shiny," Gathercole said.
The car will go to Christopher Fauntleroy, who has a 25-minute walk to work.
"Took care of my mom. We didn't have the money to have a car, so it was always walking," he said.
But not for long. Once the car is finished, it will be his.
"There's not enough thank you's to go around," Fauntleroy said.
Christopher Fauntleroy was up for a promotion at his job but he needed a car to qualify. Now that the car's coming, his promotion will go through.
Serfass said. "You can't teach that from a book."
Recycled Rides is a program by the National Auto Body Council: http://www.nationalautobodycouncil.org/programs/recycled-rides/
