Former Army Staff Sgt. Darlene Wilson works as a residential facilitator at Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania, working with veterans suffering from physical and mental issues. The mother of two children also tries to provide transportation for family members on a daily basis.
"I help out if my mom needs to go somewhere that she can't, and family if we need to go somewhere or do something," the Harrisburg resident said. "We have a big family, so we all try to help out and pitch in where it's needed."
But more than three months ago, Wilson's previous vehicle broke down and she relied on others just to get to work. While her family was able to take her to work, the lack of mobility was taking a toll on Wilson.
"It's been a hard few months," she said. "My engine blew and I just didn't have enough to get it fixed or anything like that."
On Wednesday, Sept. 4, the National Auto Body Council, in conjunction with members at Allstate and R.J. Sell’s Body Shop in Lebanon, presented Wilson with a refurbished 2019 Hyundai Tucson. The donation was through the council's Recycled Rides Program.
Wilson said it was hard to describe the community support that came together to donate this vehicle.
"I am very humbled, very excited," she said. "But it was an experience that I just never expected."
Since the creation of the Recycled Rides program in 2007, the National Auto Body Council members said the organization has donated more than 3,300 vehicles valued at more than $47 million. The program works with businesses representing all facets of the collision repair industry to repair and donate vehicles to individuals and families in need of reliable transportation.
Ron Sell, owner of R.J. Sell’s Body Shop , said he got involved with the National Auto Body Council over a year ago, and got involved with the Recycled Rides Program in early 2024.
"This particular vehicle had some minor damage to it, but it wasn't anything significant," he said. "So a lot of cosmetic stuff, painting and whatnot. But it's been put back together and it's ready for presentation."
Additional community partners were involved in refurbishing Wilson's new car and providing parts, according to Sell. These partners included Advanced Remarketing Services, Cars for Charity, RJ Sell’s Towing, Bennett Hyundai, LKQ, Fred Beans, Continental Auto Parts, Chuck’s Auto Glass, 1-800 Radiator and Wampler’s Buff and Wax Auto Detailing.
It was very humbling to be providing this kind of service for a veteran, Sell said. Workers of the Cumberland Street body shop have family members that have served in the military and jumped on the chance to do a service for a distinguished veteran.
"I've not always been in a position to even think about being able to do this, so when I heard about it I instantly thought I want to do it," he said. "It's really been a positive experience."
Wilson served 18 years in the U.S. Army, achieving the rank of staff sergeant and deploying overseas in Iraq and Kosovo. During her deployment in Iraq, she was a door gunner for a Boeing CH-47 Chinook tandem-rotor helicopter.
The peer work that Wilson does in Harrisburg is now valuable because of the experiences she brings to veterans like her who are still in need, Veterans Outreach Co-founder Thomas Zimmerman Jr. said.
"When you have veterans that are very vulnerable at this point in their lives when they are homeless, they need other veterans to step up and be their brother and sister," he said. "They will trust them because they've walked the walk."
Veterans Outreach has a village of 15 tiny homes surrounding a community center in South Harrisburg for veterans experiencing homelessness. The non-profit organization also provides support services, working with partners that include UPMC, the Veterans Administration, the Harrisburg YMCA and the Penn State Extension.
Residents looking to learn more about the Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania can visit veteransoutreachofpa.org . More information about the National Auto Body Council's Recycled Rides program can be found at nationalautobodycouncil.org/programs/recycled-rides .
Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or on X at @DAMattToth .
This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: 'I am very humbled': U.S. Army veteran gifted free new car through Recycled Rides program
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