Last Saturday at its Fourth Annual Car Show and Community Day, the Technical College High School (TCHS) Brandywine Campus partnered with the Recycled Rides program to present Sgt. Tiffany Rowan with a refurbished 2012 Nissan Sentra by 3D Auto Body and Collision Centers.
Rowan, of Bethlehem, is a 12-year member of the United States Army Reserves who has been deployed to Iraq, Kuwait, and Qatar in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Her fiancé, Vernon McLucas, is a veteran of the New York Army National Guard.
For both, the transition from active duty to civilian life has been difficult.
“We’ve had some hard times since we came back, getting acclimated to being civilians,” Rowan said. “It’s been very difficult.”
The Recycled Rides ceremony captured the essence of the Car Show, which attracted about 1,000 people. Activities included building and classroom tours, raffles of items and services provided by area businesses and TCHS program instructors, face painting, and food prepared by the TCHS Brandywine culinary arts students.
The event was coordinated by Kate Viggiano, an administrative assistant at TCHS, and Mark Serfass, a TCHS Pickering instructor.
“It was a great day,” said Viggiano. “There was a great turnout. The show is a scholarship fundraiser, as well as a community day and open house to highlight the entire school and all of the programs we have to offer.”
The Recycled Rides program was developed by the National Auto Body Council in 2007. The program brings together insurers, collision repair experts, paint suppliers, parts vendors, and other collaborators to repair and donate vehicles to deserving individuals and service organizations.
