Kishwaukee College Collision Repair Technology Program is participating in the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides Program, repairing vehicles for charity. State Farm has donated the first vehicle for the Kishwaukee program, a 2008 FlexFuel Chevy Impala. Pictured in front of the Impala are Kishwaukee College CRT students (L to R): Alex Romanelli, Chicago; David Belmonte, Rochelle; Greg Brink, CRT instructor; Jake Petersen, Genoa; Jalen Lingren, DeKalb; Adam Morgan, Sycamore; and Gary Fischer, Belvidere.
The Kishwaukee College Collision Repair Technology Program (CRT) is fixing cars for charity. The National Auto Body Council has a program called “Recycled Rides” and CRT instructor Greg Brink has Kishwaukee students participating. “It is a great program where CRT and automotive can work on damaged vehicles and repair them to donate to local charities,” he explained. “Through the generosity of State Farm®, we have our first car for the Recycled Rides Program this fall.”
State Farm donated a 2008 FlexFuel Chevy Impala to Kishwaukee College for the program. The vehicle needs some reconditioning work. The CRT and Automotive Tech programs at Kishwaukee will collaborate on the project.
According to the National Auto Body Council website, Recycled Rides is a way for insurers, CRT educational programs, CRT professionals and parts vendors can collaborate on getting much needed vehicles on the road and make a positive impact on the local community, too. Brink stated, “We will choose a local charitable organization to donate the Impala to after we have finished working on it. That charity identifies an individual or family in the local community that does not have a reliable car – or have any car at all – and so would benefit the most from the program. Then we’ll donate the vehicle to that person or family.”
Brink said that he will be meeting with a small committee on campus to select the local charitable organization to receive the first Recycled Ride. “I want to point out, too, that we really want to continue this program in future semesters,” he said, “If anyone in the local area is interested in collaborating by donating necessary parts or even a vehicle, that would be great! It is a tax write-off but more importantly it is a great way to give back to the community and create real world projects for students in the CRT and Automotive programs at Kish.” The National Auto Body Council has specific criteria for any vehicle donated to the program: good mechanical condition, no major structural damage, known title status, and Kelly Blue Book value no greater than $15,000.
For more information on the national Recycled Rides Program, visit http://www.nationalautobodycouncil.org/programs/recycled-rides/. For more information on the Recycled Ride Program at Kishwaukee College, contact Greg Brink at 815-825-2086, ext. 3280 or at gregory.brink@kishwaukeecollege.edu.
Click Here To Submit A News Tip Or Story