Presentation of the NABC Recycled Ride® Took Place June 9 at Better Collision in Summerville, SC
MEDIA NOTE: Photos from the NABC Recycled Rides® presentation are available HERE
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (June 9, 2026) – On Tuesday, June 9, a Charleston, SC area firefighter received the gift of a lifetime—the donation of a beautifully refurbished vehicle that will guarantee he can respond to emergencies and provide his family with independence. The donation was made possible by the NABC Recycled Rides® program, vehicle donor GEICO and repair partner Better Collision.
The presentation took place at Better Collision of Summerville. The recipient was nominated by Upstate Warrior Solution. Upstate Warrior Solution’s mission is to connect warriors and their family members to resources and opportunities, lead them through the process of self-empowerment, and inspire the community to embrace them as valued neighbors and friends.
“For us we get caught up in the day-to-day and we forget about the impact we can make in the community,” said Jonathon Best, owner and CEO of Better Collision. “When you get a chance to stop for a second and participate in helping somebody out, it gives you that feeling of a higher purpose. It feels really good, it’s amazing, it’s the best thing we ever do.”
A 2017 KIA Optima, donated by GEICO and refurbished by the technicians at Better Collision in Summerville, SC, was presented to Andi Zuniga Flores. Heis a dedicated firefighter for the Summerville Fire Department whose story reflects resilience, sacrifice and a deep commitment to serving others. After moving from Chile to the United States, Flores and his family began again from the ground up. They’ve built a new life through determination, hard work, and hope for a better future. Despite the many challenges that come with starting over in a new country, Flores has remained steadfast in his role at the local fire department, protecting and serving his community with professionalism and heart. Right now, the Flores family relies on an older, unreliable vehicle, which creates daily challenges for both his family and his department. When his work schedule overlaps with his family’s needs, fellow firefighters step in to help with transportation, demonstrating the strong bond within the department, but also highlighting a gap that a reliable vehicle could solve. For his family, receiving a reliable vehicle will be life changing. This refurbished vehicle from the NABC Recycled Rides® program will support a firefighter who gives so much of himself to others, ensuring he can continue to serve his department and community without unnecessary hardship at home.
“It’s not just receiving a car for my family, but it’s the freedom to go to the grocery store, a doctor’s appointment for my daughter, because in the past it’s had to match my schedule,” said recipient Andi Zuniga Flores. “Thank you to everybody with NABC, GEICO, Better Collision and all the people who made this happen. You are not just giving a material thing; you’re giving freedom to people and their families.”
Additional partners included: Advanced Remarketing Services, Cars for Charity, Copart and Enterprise.
GEICO, a Level One partner of the National Auto Body Council®, has donated more than 1,000 vehicles to people and organizations through NABC Recycled Rides®, making it the largest car donor partner of NABC Recycled Rides®.
From one shop in Beaufort to a growing network across South Carolina, Better Collision is still just getting started. An I-CAR Gold Class shop, they are expanding with purpose, growing with integrity and never compromising their values. In every repair every interaction, every moment, they’re committed to building a company that stands for something and keeps getting better.
NABC Recycled Rides® is a unique program in which businesses representing all facets of the collision repair industry team up to repair and donate vehicles to individuals and families in need of reliable transportation. Since the inception of the NABC Recycled Rides® program in 2007, members of the National Auto Body Council® have donated more than 3,750 vehicles valued at some $67 million.
About the National Auto Body Council®:
The National Auto Body Council® is the premier organization of collision industry partners dedicated to strategic networking opportunities that positively change lives in the communities we serve. The collaborative membership of the National Auto Body Council® has gifted more than 3,750 vehicles valued at more than $67 million and provided extrication opportunities for some 7,000 First Responders in communities around the country through NABC Recycled Rides® and NABC First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.™).
The NABC Changing and Saving Lives Foundation, a 501c3 organization, is committed to the goal of driving change for veterans, military members, first responders and families in need, while harnessing the power of the collective membership of the collision repair industry to positively impact communities where we live and work. As demand for NABC® programs like NABC Recycled Rides® and NABC F.R.E.E.™ grows, so do the needs for resources to manage these important programs. Being able to pursue grants, gifts and donations allows NABC to expand these programs to serve those in need and help communities where we live and work.
The Changing and Saving Lives Foundation Keys for Change program also helps drive funding for key programs. The easy, efficient donation process allows vehicle owners to turn their unwanted vehicles into life-changing support. All vehicle donations fund critical programs that provide support and assistance for families in need, military members, veterans and first responders.
For more information, visit http://www.nationalautobodycouncil.org.