SHS Automotive Receives Grant to Fix, Donate Cars for Veterans this Christmas

The Springfield High School (SHS) Automotive Technology Program was awarded a $7,500 grant for an outreach project to help veterans fix their vehicles or receive a donated car. The project, called Operation Rolling Thunder: Students Supporting Veterans, will restore donated vehicles for veterans and provide free repairs for the next few months. Veterans who were adversely affected by the Cascadia fire events in the Mckenzie and Oak Ridge areas will be prioritized.

“I wanted to bring public awareness to veteran issues such as transportation,” said Mark Simmons, SHS auto and diesel tech teacher. “As a veteran, there are many misconceptions about veteran benefits. Many veterans receive no benefits from the Federal government. I want students and our local community to understand the sacrifice that veterans have given to their country and how we can help them.”

McKenzie Valley Long Term Recovery Group (MVLTRG) will be the project’s main partner and will make sure recipients of the grant can afford to insure and operate the vehicles that are being donated or worked on. The project will allow SHS Automotive students to use their technical skills to support veterans' transportation needs using funding supplied by Harbor Freight Tools for Schools.

Two vehicles have already been donated and SHS Automotive Team hopes to deliver them by Christmas. Simmons hopes to receive another three cars before May 30.

Pictured above is SHS sophomore and CTE Auto Tech student, Alex Young inspecting switches and relays on a 2002 Toyota Highlander, one of two vehicles already donated to Operation Rolling Thunder and scheduled to be delivered this Christmas to a community veteran.