466 2006 Clothman Car Giveaway Report
I just realized that we have given away more vehicles in the latest Clothman Car Giveaway than Evel Knievel could jump in his prime. Knievel set a world record by jumping 19 cars in Ontario, California on February 28, 1971.
Thanks to generous Clothreaders we just gave away 20 vehicles, plus gas and groceries. Actually 11 cars, 4 pick-ups, 3 passenger vans and 2 SUV’s. I had to turn away 2 microwaves, 1 refrigerator and partridge in a pear tree.
Three of the vehicles had less than 100,000 miles. One had a brand new set of $500 tires on it. Several came with a separate set of snow tires. Another had leather seats. All of them were a blessing. (That’s over 35 vehicles in just two years.)
Cash donations allowed us to buy a large pile of groceries to send with the vehicles, pay for some minor repairs and fill all the gas tanks (no small deal when you’re filling up a Ford F150 at $2.20/gallon).
The Clothcrew helped manage the mountains of paperwork, phone calls, test driving, cleaning and repairing jobs that comes with this type of program (1st Lutheran Church also helped to clean several of the vehicles). The Clothcrew also handled the painful job of determining which of the applicants would receive a car. I say painful because we still had more applicants than vehicles - ouch.
But there are many others who provided significant help with this year’s Car Giveaway. The vehicle and financial donors humbly desire to remain anonymous (which I will honor). However, I would like to publicly thank Safelite Auto Glass, Batteries Plus, Big O Tires, Sharkey Insurance Center, Bitterroot Motors, The Automotive Clinic, Missoula Auto Body, Sapphire Physical Therapy, Wide World of Travel, Les Schwab Tires and the wonderful ladies at the Missoula County department of motor vehicles. All helped to make these vehicles safe, reliable and legal.
I must also thank my editors Lynn and Kathleen and the Missoulian for allowing me to use this column as a tool for social change and not remain mere words on a page.
I wish all of you could see the faces of those receiving these vehicles. Many are tear stained, some are wide-eyed in shock. All are smiling as we tell them that this vehicle isn’t from Clothman or even from the Clothreaders; rather, it is from their loving Father in Heaven who has seen their struggles and wanted them to know that they are not alone or forgotten. Priceless!
The extravagant generosity of those donating vehicles, finances and services confirms that the spirit of kindness and compassion is very much alive throughout Western Montana. Clothreaders from Atheists to Zionists came together to push back the darkness and allow the light of love to break through into the lives of people mired in need.
I can't express how delighted and honored I am to share this portion of God's beautiful creation with such quality folks as you. Evel Knievel wowed crowds, but you have wowed hearts.
|
|
