Employees at Gapsch Carstar Collision Center took recycling to a new level when they “recycled” a totaled minivan for an Angels’ Arms foster family.

The 2001 Ford Windstar was heading for the junkyard when Gapsch employees stepped in to refurbish the car as part of the Recycled Rides program. After hours and hours of work, the car was transformed and made like new again for the Hackman family and their teenage foster sons.

As foster mother Phyllis Hackman stated in a news release, “The van is a lifesaver. Our family is made up of big, strong young men, who take up a lot of room in any vehicle. Thanks to the generosity of the Gapsch employees, we will all fit in one vehicle again.”

This is the fifth year that Gapsch has donated a car to a foster family from Angels’ Arms, an organization that provides loving, secure homes and support for foster families with a focus on keeping sibling groups together. Since opening the doors of the first Angels’ Arms home in

2003, more than 260 children, including 50 sibling groups, have been assisted by the organization. The staff members at Gapsch look on the hours of work they donate as a labor of love, according to the release.

“The cars are totaled when they comes in,” stated Lisa Rush, Gapsch general manager. “The employees have just run with this every year. They really take over and do a fabulous job. Seeing the car transformed from a wreck to a shining, new vehicle, and seeing the work they do is amazing. They are as excited as I am to be helping Angels’ Arms, the Hackmans and their foster children.”

The Windstar also held another surprise for the Hackman family. It was filled with food, paper products, household supplies and a gift for each member of the family. Gapsch employees, the South County YMCA and various local merchants collected the gifts.

“We can’t thank Gapsch enough for what they have done for our family and for the other

previous recipients from our Angels’ Arms families,” Hackman stated.