Presentation of the Life-changing Gift Took Place for July 25 Thanks to Allstate, Mackin’s Auto Body Prairie and the NABC Recycled Rides® Program
MEDIA NOTE: Photos from the NABC Recycled Rides® presentation are available HERE
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (July 25, 2026) – On Saturday, July 25, a local U.S. Army veteran received the ultimate gift—the donation of a beautifully refurbished vehicle that will allow him to support fellow veterans on similar recovery journeys. The donation was made possible by the NABC Recycled Rides® program, vehicle donor Allstate and repair partner Mackin’s Auto Body, part of the Certified Collision Group network.
The presentation took place at Mackin’s Auto Body Prairie in Vancouver, WA. The recipient was nominated by the Salvation Army Family Center. The Salvation Army Family Center is an emergency and transitional housing facility designed to keep families and individuals safe and stable during times of crisis. It provides secure refuge, customized case management, and essential resources to help people transition into permanent housing.
A 2019 Kia Sorento, donated by Allstate and refurbished by the technicians at Mackin’s Auto Body Prairie, was presented to Tyrone Sampson.
“I’m just overwhelmed,” said recipient Tyrone Sampson. “I’m going to take care of this vehicle better than any other one I’ve ever had.”
Sampson, a father of two adult children, served in the U.S. Army for eight years and was honorably discharged. He retired from the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2021. However, without a clear path forward and with limited support nearby, Sampson struggled to move forward in his life’s journey. In search of healing and community, he sold his home in Arizona and returned to the Pacific Northwest—the place where his fellow veterans could offer the understanding and support he needed. Though asking for help has never come easily, Sampson has taken courageous steps toward rebuilding his life. With the help of the VA and SAVF housing support, he remains committed to a healthier, more stable future. Reliable transportation is a key piece of that journey—it will not only help Sampson regain independence, but it will also enable him to give back by supporting other veterans. As someone who looks forward to joining a kayaking group for veterans, he plans to be the one driving others to join him. This refurbished vehicle from the NABC Recycled Rides® program will benefit Sampson tremendously, as it will enable him to attend critical medical, and aftercare appointments independently, and allow him to further support fellow veterans.
Those in the community can support this life-changing program 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: BASF, Industrial Finishes, Dick’s Tire, Elitek, Fix Your Dents, Wesco, Pacific Office, Norton Abrasives, Excel Window Tint, Enterprise, Copart, Advanced Remarketing Services and Cars for Charity.
Allstate, a Level One partner of the National Auto Body Council®, has donated more than 300 vehicles to people and organizations through the NABC Recycled Rides® program, making it one of the largest vehicle donor partners of NABC Recycled Rides®.
Mackin’s Auto Body was founded in 1945, and operates 11 locations in the Pacific Northwest specializing in manufacturer-certified collision restoration, dent removal, panel/frame repair, and factory color-matched paintwork
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.