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Since the pandemic began, many auto body shops temporarily suspended the practice of giving refurbished vehicles to deserving families, which makes sense.

But, even during these uncertain times, Mike’s Auto Body in California’s East Bay is committed to continue its benevolence program, safely and within local regulations.

Over the last two decades, Mike’s Auto Body has presented 94 cars to deserving families and nonprofit organizations. On June 16, Mike’s gave two fully refurbished vehicles to two deserving members of the Alameda GG U.S. Coast Guard.

A 2019 Honda Fit was given to U.S. Coast Guard SK2 James Souder, and YN3 Ryan Westall received a 2017 Toyota Prius at a ceremony on the pier adjacent to the U.S.S. Hornet in Alameda, CA.

The Honda Fit was donated by Liberty Mutual/Safeco Insurance and refurbished by the crew at Mike’s Alameda, and the Toyota Prius was donated by Mike’s Auto Body and repaired at its Antioch Auto Damage Assessment Center (ADAC) location.

This year’s presentation, held in the shadows of the enormous carrier, U.S.S. Hornet, and other ships, also celebrated the 101st anniversary of the establishment of the rank of chief in the Coast Guard, and marked Mike’s Auto Body’s 21st anniversary participating in the benevolence program.

Everything is always donated, including the cars, parts, paint, mechanical inspections, tires and one full year of insurance. The body and paint technicians donate their time

and talents. Due to COVID-19 and all the related restrictions, Mike’s Auto Body was not able to hold its typical presentation, but roughly 60 people were in attendance, including Coast Guard representatives, Mike’s employees―including the technicians who worked on the vehicle―business partners, vendors, local political representatives, insurance companies and the local press. The program opened with remarks from Sal Contreras, who has been emceeing Mike’s benevolence presentations for two decades. “It has been so rewarding over the last 21 years, presenting the cars to deserving individuals and organizations who are working to improve their skills and become independent,” Contreras said. “We are excited to be part of our recipient’s life-changing experience, and doing it in this amazing location next to 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 Auto Body Mike’s year to have Liberty Mutual/Safeco Insurance and Mike’s Auto Body donate a written off vehicle to be presented to two deserving Coastie families,” Contreras said. “The benevolence program is about helping people who are in need of a helping hand. The pandemic did put a lockdown on the program in March and we weren’t sure if we would be having any presentations at all this year. When the state’s restrictions were being lifted, we decided to re-engage with our benevolence program and give away these two cars.” Supervisor SK1 Craig Davis, SFLC Alameda LREPL ASM, wrote a letter recommending Souder. “Over the last four years, James has been working at our base in Alameda and commuting from Petaluma five days a week,” Davis wrote. “The vehicle that James owned was 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.

“This is just my opinion of course but James is a wonderful human being and his family does a lot for others so it would be awesome to see something good like this come his way,” Davis continued. “I can’t speak for everyone else and their situations but this would go to a very deserving family if it goes to them. Thanks again for reaching out and doing what you all do. It warms my

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� Hornet in Alameda, CA S� of transportation being destroyed. To make matters worse, he unknowingly let his insurance lapse and was not covered at the time of the accident. “To alleviate the strains of commuting without a vehicle, Westall purchased an electric scooter to use as his sole mode of transportation,” Marsh said. “For more important matters such as medical/dental appointments and the necessities of See Mike’s Auto Body, Page 22