ACDelco teams lift up single parents, veterans, and more on National Day of Service

May 15, 2017
ACDelco, General Motor’s original equipment parts brand, announced today that its team members and ACDelco Professional Service Centers in 25 states completed $200,000 in complimentary vehicle repairs for more than 200 people in need last week.
ACDelco, General Motor’s original equipment parts brand, announced today that its team members and ACDelco Professional Service Centers in 25 states completed $200,000 in complimentary vehicle repairs for more than 200 people in need last week.
As part of the ACDelco National Day of Service, ACDelco employees worked with local non-profits to identify people, including single parents, veterans, retirees and cancer survivors, whose quality of life could be markedly improved by repairs as simple as a brake job or as complex as an engine rebuild. ACDelco then donated the necessary parts and local shops completed the repairs free of charge. “The 40 repair shops that joined the ACDelco National Day of Service were all working towards the same goal: making people’s lives easier and safer by getting their vehicles up and running,” said Mark Drennan, General Director, ACDelco. “People have so many things to juggle in their lives that it’s easy to postpone routine maintenance like changing brake pads, especially if money is an issue. But that can and does lead to more expensive repairs down the road – we see it every day.  Costs can snowball and it can become overwhelming.  We’ve helped lift that burden for hundreds of people.”

A recent AAA study shows that paying for routine maintenance and repairs can be a major challenge for many people. According to AAA, one in three U.S. drivers are not able to afford a car repair bill of $500 without taking on debt. For many, it’s a choice they have to make between fixing their vehicle and necessities like food and rent. Many even risk driving in unsafe or not properly maintained vehicles, which can lead to accidents.
 
Other studies underscore the importance of owning a reliable car. For example, a 2012 survey published in the Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health found that those who rode the bus to the doctor’s office were twice as likely to miss appointments as people who drove cars. In addition, a review published in 2013 in the Journal of Community Health found that around 25 percent of lower-income patients have missed or rescheduled appointments due to lack of transportation.
 
One of the shops to participate was Charlie’s Auto in Mason City, Iowa, owned by Charlie West.  He dedicated his Day of Service to helping military veterans and hosted an additional 300 people from the community.
 
“Our community is very important to us. They’re not just our customers, they’re our neighbors,” West said. “We know that some of our community members don’t have the budget for some of these repairs – so the work we’ve done here with ACDelco can have a big impact on their lives.”
 
Local charities assisted in the effort by identifying individuals and families in the community who could benefit from the assistance. This included Caren Brock of Colonia, New Jersey, a teacher, coach, mother of twin 16-year-old girls and a breast cancer survivor. During her illness and recovery, she missed work and important family events, and her only car has fallen into significant disrepair. With the help of Ray and Dana’s Auto Care of Colonia, her vehicle was given a complete overhaul.
 
“I’m overwhelmed. My car has new brakes and it looks beautiful,” said Brock. “For Dana to take care of my car and for ACDelco to do what they did for me, will keep me from having car payments for a long time. I’m so appreciative of that, I can’t tell you how much it means to me.”
 
This year marks the second annual National Day of Service event. Overall, ACDelco has provided free repairs to almost 300 people across the country through its Day of Service program.
 
To learn more about ACDelco, visit ACDelco.com.
 
ACDelco is the true Original Equipment parts brand for Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac, as well as provider of premium aftermarket parts for most other makes and models. Other available applications include off-road, marine and industrial. With a century of history behind it and nearly 90,000 parts across 37 product lines, ACDelco is the preferred choice of professional technicians and do-it-yourselfers around the world. To find an ACDelco Professional Service Center program participant or parts retailer, visit acdelco.com or call 1-800-ACDELCO. Find ACDelco on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter.

Sponsored Recommendations

ZEUS+: The Cutting-Edge Diagnostic Solution for Smart, Fast, and Efficient Auto Repairs

The new ZEUS+ simplifies your diagnostic process and guides you through the right repair, avoiding unnecessary steps along the way. It gives you the software coverage, processing...

Diagnostic Pre- and Post-scan Reports are Solid Gold for Profitability

The following article highlights the significance of pre-scans and post-scans, particularly with Snap-on scan tools, showcasing their efficiency in diagnosing issues and preventing...

Unlock Precision and Certainty: TRITON-D10 Webinar Training for Advanced Vehicle Diagnostics

The TRITON-D10 lets you dig deep into the systems of a vehicle and evaluate performance with comparative data, systematically eliminating the unnecessary to provide you with only...

APOLLO-D9: Trustworthy Diagnostics for Precision Repairs

The APOLLO-D9 provides the diagnostic information and resources you need to get the job done. No more hunting through forums or endlessly searching to find the right answers. ...

Voice Your Opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Vehicle Service Pros, create an account today!