On Tuesday, June 9, a Charleston, S.C., area firefighter received the donation of a refurbished vehicle to 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, part of Certified Collision Group.
Presentation and Nomination
The presentation took place at Better Collision of Summerville. The recipient was nominated by Upstate Warrior Solution, whose 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.”
Vehicle and Recipient
A 2017 Kia Optima, donated by GEICO and refurbished by the technicians at Better Collision, was presented to Andi Zuniga Flores. He is a dedicated firefighter for the Summerville Fire Department whose story reflects resilience, sacrifice and a commitment to serving others.
After moving from Chile to the U.S., Flores and his family began again from the ground up. 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. Receiving a reliable vehicle will be life-changing and support him in continuing to serve his department and community…