May 23, 2018—A LaMettry’s Collision Inc. location in Chanhassen Minn. partnered with American Family Insurance to give a car to the family of Staff Sergeant Andrew Vanderplaats.
The car was presented Tuesday through the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides program, which LaMettry’s has been involved with for about five to six years.
LaMettry’s has given away eight cars through the years. The family of Staff Sergeant Vanderplaats is the first active military recipient the shop has chosen, said Darrell Amberson, president of operations for LaMettry’s.
Recently Vanderplaats’ wife, Cassandra, passed away from unknown health issues at the age of 31. In June, Vanderplaats and his family, including his three girls, will be transferring to the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.
Vanderplaats said before this car, he had been using a “lemon” of a vehicle and had to take it in for repairs very often.
The family was gifted a 2017 Volkswagen Passat that was repaired after having hail damage. The vehicle had previously been declared and written off as a total loss, said Scott Weber, direct repair program manager for American Family Insurance.
Weber has partnered with collision repair shops in Minnesota to donate vehicles to families in need. Tuesday marks his ninth donation.
Weber said he was inspired to join the program after the sudden death of his sister in the early 2000s. His sister had previously served approximately 20 years in the U.S. military.
