Good News Garage Works With Students at Broadview Middle School to Award a Van to Local Family

Good News Garage, an affiliate of Lutheran Social Services of New England, and students at Broadview Middle School in Danbury partnered together to provide a wheelchair-accessible van to one of the school’s families. Wanda Sierra of Danbury is a single mother of two boys with Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy. Her younger son is currently a student at Broadview Middle School and her older son who is now in high school attended Broadview Middle. Due to the family’s lack of transportation, the boys were often unable to participate in school activities and events and getting to and from their doctor appointments proved difficult.

Earlier this year, Christine Miller, a counselor familiar with the family and their unique transportation needs approached Good News Garage. Miller was offered a Chevrolet Van outfitted with a wheelchair lift from Christian Connection Ministry in Massachusetts and inquired as to how Good News Garage may be able to help repair the van for the Sierra family.

Working with classmates of the two boys, Good News Garage was able to repair the van with 67,000 miles on it for Sierra and her family. The middle school class held various fundraising events including a bake sale/can drive and successfully raised over 70% of the van’s repair costs. The remainder of the repair costs were covered by Good News Garage as part of its “JumpStart” program. The “Jumpstart” program is designed to provide refurbished vehicles to clients otherwise not eligible under GNG’s major contracts. GNG depends on private grants, individual donations and car donations to keep the JumpStart program strong.

Following several months of fundraising and coordination, the van was delivered to Sierra and her two boys on June 1st at Broadview Middle School while the entire class who helped fundraise for the repairs proudly looked on.

Since receiving the car Sierra and her sons have been enjoying spending time out together as a family and plan to have at least one family outing day each month.

Good News Garage, an affiliate of Lutheran Social Services of New England, accepts, repairs and awards donated vehicles to individuals and families in need. Recipients use the vehicles as a “wheels to work” tool to get more hours at work, access higher paying jobs and affordable child and healthcare. For more information or to donate a car, call toll-free 877-GIVE-AUTO or donate online at www.GoodNewsGarage.org.