November 25, 2009

It's going to be a Thanksgiving to remember for one Charlottesville family.

Wednesday, the Garland family were chosen to receive a mini-van, warranty included, thanks to a donation from the Airport Auto Exchange dealership off Route 29. The dealership wanted to do something special this Thanksgiving. After receiving more than forty applications from families, they narrowed it down to one.

"It's just a real blessing for me and my family...me and my girls," says Christian Garland, the mom who won the van.

The single mother lives in Charlottesville, and she's dedicated to raising her three daughters. They love to play soccer, and their favorite class is gym. The Garlands' first destination in their first family car will be the park so the kids can play.

"I was once a single mother," says Sherrika Nowell, who works at Airport Auto Exchange and came up with the giveaway. "You can't adequately shop the way you wan to grocery shop. You can't go to school performances, doctor's appointments, to church, just the normal things we take for granted day to day."

Sherrika Nowell came up with the idea of giving away a van to a low-income family this year.

"The poster that they sent in really touched us because we could look into the eyes of the children that we would be helping and that really tugged at our heart, and that's what really made [the Garlands] stand out," says Nowell.

As the owner of Airport Auto Exchange, Bernard Marshall, hands over the keys, he's providing more than a car for the family.

"I believe that when you give back from your heart you get back, and that's what we want to do. We want to be able to help this family, and give something from our hearts to them," says Bill Bridge, with Airport Auto Exchange.

Garland won't have to worry about Thanksgiving dinner this year, thanks to a donation from The New Deli. She'll have a meal of turkey, stuffing, and all the fixings.

"I still can't really believe it, you know. It's very exciting," says Garland.

Airport Auto officials say they want to continue to do more for the community through outreach efforts like the van giveaway.

Some of the sponsors of the van giveaway are:

The New Deli and Grill
Simply Fresh Produce
William Bridge and Associates
Preferred Warranties
Hand Me Downs Chldrens Consignment Shop
Monticello Media
Bailey Printing Inc.
CVille Weekly
Daily Progress