Mike’s Auto Body in California’s East Bay Celebrates 21 Years of Giving Cars to Deserving Families and talents. Due to COVID-19 and all the Since the pandemic began, many related restrictions, Mike’s Auto auto body shops temporarily sus- Body was not able to hold its typical pended the practice of giving refur- presentation, but roughly 60 people bished vehicles to deserving fami- were in attendance, including Coast lies, which makes sense. Guard representatives, Mike’s em But, even during these uncer- ployees―including the technicians tain times, Mike’s Auto Body in Cal- who worked on the vehicle―busiifornia’s East Bay is committed to ness partners, vendors, local politicontinue its benevolence program, cal representatives, insurance comsafely and within local regulations. panies and the local press. Over the last two decades, The program opened with reMike’s Auto Body has presented 94 marks from Sal Contreras, who has cars to deserving families and non- been emceeing Mike’s benevolence profit organizations. On June 16, presentations for two decades. Mike’s gave two fully refurbished “It has been so rewarding over vehicles to two deserving mem- the last 21 years, presenting the bers of the Alameda GG U.S. Coast cars to deserving individuals and Guard. organizations who are working to A 2019 Honda Fit was given to improve their skills and become inU.S. Coast Guard SK2 James Soud- dependent,” Contreras said. “We are er, and YN3 Ryan Westall received excited to be part of our recipient’s a 2017 Toyota Prius at a ceremony life-changing experience, and doing on the pier adjacent to the U.S.S. it in this amazing location next to Hornet in Alameda, CA. these ships makes it even more significant. “Three years ago, Liberty Mutual/Safeco Insurance donated a car for our Alameda Benevolence Program to honor the deserving families of the GG Coast Guard with the help of the CPOA Chiefs,” Contreras said. “A tradition was born. U.S. Coast Guard SK2 James Souder, center, poses with “We are grateful this Brennan and Ragen Rose, far right, co-owners of Mike’s year to have Liberty MuAuto Body tual/Safeco Insurance and The Honda Fit was donated Mike’s Auto Body donate a written by Liberty Mutual/Safeco Insur- off vehicle to be presented to two ance and refurbished by the crew deserving Coastie families,” Conat Mike’s Alameda, and the Toyota treras said. “The benevolence proPrius was donated by Mike’s Auto gram is about helping people who Body and repaired at its Antioch are in need of a helping hand. The Auto Damage Assessment Center pandemic did put a lockdown on the (ADAC) location. program in March and we weren’t This year’s presentation, held sure if we would be having any prein the shadows of the enormous car- sentations at all this year. When the rier, U.S.S. Hornet, and other ships, state’s restrictions were being lifted, also celebrated the 101st anniversa- we decided to re-engage with our ry of the establishment of the rank benevolence program and give away of chief in the Coast Guard, and these two cars.” marked Mike’s Auto Body’s 21st Supervisor SK1 Craig Davis, anniversary participating in the be- SFLC Alameda LREPL ASM, wrote nevolence program. a letter recommending Souder. “Over the last four years, James Everything is always donated, including the cars, parts, paint, me- has been working at our base in Alchanical inspections, tires and one ameda and commuting from Petalufull year of insurance. The body and ma five days a week,” Davis wrote. paint technicians donate their time “The vehicle that James owned was by Ed Attanasio
14 AUGUST 2021 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com
in very poor condition at one point he had to take out a mutual assistance loan to cover the cost of the maintenance it needed to stay in running condition.
heart when good people do things like this for other good people.” CWO Michael Marsh nominated Westall. “Westall works tirelessly to help shipmates with all of their administrative needs and on numerous occasions has worked after hours to ensure crewmembers were supported,” Marsh said. “Soon after reporting to the CGC Waesche, YN3 Westall and his family were in a car accident resulting YN3 Ryan Westall received a 2017 Toyota Prius from Mike’s in his family’s only mode Auto Body at a ceremony on the pier adjacent to the U.S.S. of transportation being deHornet in Alameda, CA stroyed. To make matters “This is just my opinion of worse, he unknowingly let his insurcourse but James is a wonderful hu- ance lapse and was not covered at man being and his family does a lot the time of the accident. for others so it would be awesome to “To alleviate the strains of comsee something good like this come muting without a vehicle, Westall his way,” Davis continued. “I can’t purchased an electric scooter to use speak for everyone else and their sit- as his sole mode of transportation,” uations but this would go to a very Marsh said. “For more important deserving family if it goes to them. matters such as medical/dental apThanks again for reaching out and pointments and the necessities of See Mike’s Auto Body, Page 22 doing what you all do. It warms my
