Students Rehab, Donate CarA group of students are giving the gift of wheels to help someone in need in the community.
In the next couple of weeks, Wawasee High School auto shop teacher Brad Craig's class will donate a 1995 Chevy Lumina to Combined Community Services.
About 40 students are in Craig's class; some study in the morning, some in the afternoon. The students have spent the past few months fixing up the car to donate. The students did brake and exhaust work and rebuilt the top part of the engine.James Heath, a senior in Craig's class, said the car didn't run when the students began their work on it. He said now the car starts and runs smoothly.
CCS Director Lewis Jones said the car will go to one of his organization's clients without personal transportation.
"We have a waiting list of clients who need a car or some type of vehicle," Jones said. "When vehicles are donated, we're able to provide someone with a car."
Jones said the donated vehicles make a difference in the lives of those who receive them.
"Kosciusko County is one of the largest counties in the state, geographically," he said. "A car would allow a client to get to school at Ivy Tech or to a better job. It can totally transform life when you get a vehicle to get around."
Craig said the car donation project was beneficial to his students, giving them hands-on experience using the techniques they've studied and practiced. He said his class was also glad to have the opportunity to give back.
"We knew the economy was bad and we were just looking for some way to help the community," Craig said.
