Presentation of the NABC Recycled Rides® Took Place at Farmers Insurance® Office in Oklahoma City
MEDIA NOTE: Photos from the NABC Recycled Rides® presentation are available HERE
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (August 3, 2026) – On Wednesday, July 29, four deserving Oklahoma veterans experienced a life-changing event – the presentation of a vehicle to provide them each with independence and the ability to work and take care of their families – thanks to the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides® program along with vehicle donors Farmers Insurance and repair partners Caliber Collision, Crash Champions and Gerber Collision & Glass.
The presentation was held at the Farmers Insurance offices in Oklahoma City. At the event, four fully refurbished vehicles, each donated by Farmers, were presented to four veterans in need. (full bios below):
“There’s people out there doing stuff for you that you’ll never meet,” Jared Hayes with Crash Champions Collision Repair said. “So, that’s just something to think about. Just be thankful we have the freedom we do things back here at home because of what they have done for us.”
A 2021 Subaru Outback, refurbished by the technicians at Crash Champions of Oklahoma City, was presented to Seth Nelson. He is a veteran who has had three enlistments with the U.S Army and Army National Guard and three honorable discharges. He applied and was approved for a Service Dog program in 2019, and successfully completed training with his female Labrador (India). India has reached the point in her life cycle where she needs to be retired from daily working dog functions. Nelson will soon begin training with a new Service Dog to replace India. That means he will need to travel 250 miles round trip to Oklahoma City two days a week for the next 13 months to train his replacement service animal. This refurbished vehicle from the NABC Recycled Rides® program will make it possible for Nelson to continue working and obtain a new service dog. Honoring America’s Warriors will pay fuel costs for him during training and provide the first six months full coverage insurance.
“It’s unbelievable, I guess it really hasn’t hit me yet,” said recipient Seth Nelson. “This a blessing, that’s what it is.”
A 2021 Honda HR-V, refurbished by the technicians at Caliber Collision of Oklahoma City, was presented to Joshua Houston, a veteran of the United States Army serving from 2003-2014. He is a combat veteran that served in both Operation Iraqi Freedom and in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Houston is a dedicated advocate for fellow veterans, and a member of the community who has spent years helping others overcome some of the most difficult challenges faced by our nation’s service members. During his deployment to Afghanistan, Houston’s convoy was involved in an improvised explosive device (IED) attack, resulting in injuries that ultimately prevented him from continuing his military service. His service-connected injuries and experiences have continued to impact his life, but he has remained committed to serving others. Since 2014, Houston has dedicated his professional career to advocating for veterans throughout the State of Oklahoma. Through his work with Oklahoma Veterans United, he assists homeless and at-risk veterans with securing safe housing, accessing federal benefits, navigating VA systems, and rebuilding stability. This vehicle from the NABC Recycled Rides® program will have a life-changing impact allowing Houston to continue his employment, provide transportation for his children, attend medical appointments, and remain engaged in serving Oklahoma’s veteran community.
A 2024 Chevrolet Trax, refurbished by the technicians at Gerber Collision & Glass of Edmond, OK, was presented to Anise Stephens, an Army veteran who served from 2008-2020. She is also a single mother, and a public servant whose life has been defined by selfless service. Stephens deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn, serving as a 74D Chemical Operations Specialist. During her combat deployment, she earned the Combat Action Badge and distinguished herself through professionalism, leadership, and dedication to mission accomplishment. She medically retired from the U.S. Army in 2020 as a Staff Sergeant (E-6) after nearly thirteen years of honorable service. Like many combat veterans, Stephens continues to face lasting effects from her military service. Despite these challenges, she has remained committed to supporting others rather than allowing adversity to define her. Today, Stephens serves with the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, where her work directly improves the lives of veterans living in Oklahoma State Veterans Homes. Several years ago, a serious medical emergency created significant financial hardship, ultimately resulting in the loss of her personal vehicle. Since then, she has relied on friends and family for transportation. As a single mother whose employment requires travel throughout Oklahoma, reliable transportation is essential for maintaining employment, caring for her daughter, and continuing her service to fellow veterans. This refurbished vehicle from the NABC Recycled Rides® program will remove a major financial burden, provide dependable transportation, and allow Anise to continue supporting Oklahoma’s veterans while providing stability for her family.
“Not long ago I called the fire department because my car was going up in smoke on the way home from work one day,” said recipient Anise Stephens. “We’re all out here, there’s a lot of us, more than you think and we’re all here to support each other. I really appreciate this.”
A 2019 Buick Enclave, refurbished by the technicians at Crash Champions of Oklahoma City, was presented to Zackary Milner, a veteran of the United States Navy that served from 2010-2017. In 2023, he had to enter the VA Hospital for an illness that kept him there for a prolonged period of time, during which his roommate passed away and he lost the home they were leasing. Upon discharge form the hospital, he had no place to live and was homeless. Milner would not receive his full VA compensation until December 2025. He lived in a 9-year-old vehicle that he bought until the VA Medical Center in OKC helped him get into a facility for homeless veterans and assisting him to get back into sustainable housing. Today he is thriving, living on an Equine Therapy Ranch where he volunteers his time. But his vehicle has become unreliable. This gift of reliable transportation from the NABC Recycled Rides® program will enable Milner to reach out farther and do more as he continues to rebound and regain his independence.
Those in the community that wish to support this life-changing program can do so in two ways – donate to the program directly or donate their unwanted or non-running vehicle through the Changing and Saving Lives Keys for Change program. They will receive a tax donation for their contribution, and proceeds will help provide reliable transportation for those in need across the country – and in their community.
Additional partners in this presentation include: Hi-Tech PDR, PPG Paints, Marc Miller Parts, Mobil Auto Solutions, ATE, AAA Automotive Care, Bob Moore Subaru, LKQ, O’Reilly Auto Parts, OKC Dent Shop, National Coatings & Supplies, One Shot Glass, Bob Howard PDC, Empire Auto Parts, Sherwin Williams, Group 1, Frost Auto Accessories and Design, HI-TECH PDR, 4WP OKC, Wheel Fixer, Advanced Remarketing Services, Cars for Charity, Copart and Enterprise.
Farmers, a level one member of the NABC®, has donated numerous vehicles to people and organizations in need and organizations who serve them through NABC Recycled Rides®.
Caliber Collision, also a Level One partner, has donated more than 600 vehicles to military service members, veterans and other individuals in need of reliable transportation over the last 12 years. All Caliber locations are I-CAR Gold Certified repair facilities.
Crash Champions, also a Level One partner of the National Auto Body Council®, has gifted more than 250 vehicles to people and organizations through NABC Recycled Rides®.
Gerber Collision & Glass, a Level One member of the NABC®, was founded in 1937 as a single glass and trim shop and has grown to be one of the largest auto collision and glass repair companies in North America. Gerber Collision & Glass locations are all I-CAR Gold Certified repair facilities.
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.