July 31, 2015—A&J Collision Repair and Helton’s Wrecker & Repair Service hosted the annual Wheels to Prosper event on July 25 in Conway, Ark.
A&J Collision Repair and Helton’s Wrecker & Repair Service host this event annually as part of a nationwide initiative to give vehicles to families who are working to get their lives on track. This year was special because organizers were able to give two vehicles away instead of just one.
Jody Gatchell, owner of A&J Collision Repair, announced the first recipient, Nicole Lee, a mother of three. Lee was presented with a 2001 Nissan Maxima.
“It means everything. I have a car, but it’s been giving me so many problems that I was just about to have to look into payments and buy a vehicle,” said Lee. “Now, that stress has been lifted.”
Bill Helton, owner of Helton’s Wrecker & Repair Service in Conway, introduced Otis Butts as the second winner. Butts received a 2005 Ford Focus.
“I didn’t know this was going to happen,” Butts said of the surprise. “I’m excited.”
The winners were chosen based on forms sent in from the community nominating someone deserving of gift through Wheels to Prosper.
“When we were going through the nomination process in the room, there were several people that were nominated by several different people in the community,” Gatchell said. “Most nominations were done by numerous people. It just goes to show the character of the people that were nominated.”