Recycled Rides for deserving Veterans!

On Tuesday, November 12, 2025, 16 deserving Veterans from the Plano, TX, area received “Recycled Rides” from the National Auto Body Council (NABC) and Texas Collision Centers. The Council, a 501c3 non-profit organization, brings its Recycled Rides program that “gifts” approximately 300 cars annually. Most of these go to veterans. The 2025 gifting is the largest presentation to-date in the organization’s 30-year-history and is a compelling way to thank them. It’s also a great way to assist them in getting their lives back on track. Napleton News thanks them for their service.

The perfect Recycled Ride Starts with a car- or truck.

In order to present vehicles to the veterans, you must first have donor cars. These are provided by NABC partners including GEICO, Allstate, Farmers, Travelers, Mercury Insurance and Liberty Mutual. Some vehicles were in accidents and considered financial losses. This means the car’s value was not worth the repair costs. Some could have hail damage. Others were theft recoveries that needed refurbishment on things like the steering column where the car may have been hot-wired.

The cars are found through global used car auctioneer Copart. Selected vehicles are brought to partner body shops and evaluated for repairability and roadworthiness. Despite that, many are candidates are rejected. Vehicles must have no frame rail damage, and their cooling systems must be fully operable. Nothing is older than 2015, and NABC evaluates how they were maintained and makes sure they have not exceeded 80,000 miles on the odometer.

The cars, trucks and SUVs are repaired to factory standards. That way, recipients are getting a reliable vehicle that can help them carry on with their lives, as they are able. With some veterans injured in service, the NABC partnered with the Freedom Mobility Foundation founded by Major General Kevin Pottinger (Air Force –Retired). The organization helps to secure mobility solutions for active military, veterans and first responders around the country.

Working with NABC, Freedom Mobility helps install hoists to lift wheelchairs in and out of the vehicles. Swivel seats, hand controls and external controls are installed according to the recipient’s needs and desires. In the end, they are presented with a reliable and useful vehicle that will help improve their quality of life.

Worthy Recipients.

Recipients of “Recycled Rides” are not randomly chosen. They are nominated by a committee, which includes Veteran’s Administration officials, veteran’s groups and other organizations. The criteria include their needs, their ability to operate the vehicle and how a new vehicle would impact their lives.

Here’s a look at several of this year’s recipients:

Trey Macaluso: Trey’s US Army career lasted from 2008 until 2018.  His six years of service included deployment to Operation Enduring Freedom while in the US Army National Guard. He has been involved in training, job services, and support from the Department of Labor’s Homeless Veterans Reintegration program since his return. This recycled vehicle will greatly aid this ongoing success.

Robert Silva: From 1991 to 2000, Robert Silva honorably served in the United States Navy as a missile technician on the USS Nebraska. He received two Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal and many commendations for his service.  After his mother died in 2023, Silva had to leave his job because he was denied time off, and as a result, he lost his unemployment benefits.  Silva eventually became homeless, and he lived on VA benefits.  In 2024, an accident totaled his vehicle. This new refurbished vehicle will allow him to access better job opportunities, maintain his health and continue progressing toward full independence and self-sufficiency.

Enduring Freedom.

Michael Rodriguez: Rodriguez served in the US Navy from 2011 to 2015, taking part in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Freedom Sentinel. A 25-foot fall during his service career caused back and leg injuries for Rodriguez. He found housing in a veteran’s village after being homeless, paying monthly rent and working on electrical and security maintenance. This refurbished vehicle from the NABC Recycled Rides program will allow Rodriguez to continue his part-time work as an electrician’s apprentice and gain experience to become an electrician.

A US Army veteran, LaCata Jenkins, is also a single mother with four kids. After her military duty, she dealt with eviction and related hardships. Jenkins showed impressive strength and sacrifice for her country and in overcoming hardship at home. She’ll be able to work, go to appointments, and care for her kids thanks to this vehicle.

These Rides are truly life changing.

Ryan Zimmerer: a father of two, served in the Marines from 2007 to 2010.  Zimmerer was hurt in a Fast Rope Training accident in 2009. Ryan dropped 50 feet from a helicopter onto a ship’s flight deck. In 2010, he received a medical retirement from the US Marines. After 16 years, he had both legs amputated. That followed up with 10 surgeries, amounting to one every year and a half. An adapted truck from the Freedom Mobility Foundation will allow Zimmerer to go hunting and fishing with his sons.

“This will provide me the opportunity to spend time outdoors with my boys and go places with the whole family. Using temporary controls in his wife’s truck has helped some. “But with this vehicle, I’ll be able to fully control the throttle and brake with confidence and reliability,” said Zimmerer.

“I’ll also be able to take the boys fishing. It’s something that’s been hard without a reliable way to get my off-road wheelchair out to the fishing spots,” he said. I’m hoping to get back to work as a dog trainer working with hunting dogs now that I can get out to train them.

This truly life changing for me. Since my accident, it’s been a constant journey of surgeries and setbacks. This is a positive step forward