Family ‘blessed’ to receive ‘Wheels of Hope’

PALMER — It used to be if Angela Davis and her five boys needed to go to a doctor’s appointment she had to borrow her mom’s car.

But, as of Friday, which, aside from being less than a week before Christmas actually turned out to be her birthday, Davis and the boys have a forest green 2003 Ford Explorer to carry them in comfort where they need to go.

“This is going to get me on the right path so I can get my kids to all their appointments,” Davis said.

Davis was this year’s recipient of the Wheels of Hope program, a charitable program that donates a car to a deserving person or family each Christmas. This is the fifth car that’s been donated.

Donn Bennice, who heads up Alaska Family Services that runs the program said that dozens of applicants came in this year. Eliminating the first half was easy, he said.

“When you get down to the last 10, they were very deserving,” he said.

Andy Rogers, Sales Manger with Alaskan Autos Inc., said that the people behind the program are NAPA AutoCare Centers — a network of mechanic shops in the Valley. The shops are: Alaska Automotive, C&C Autocare, Edmonds Import Auto, Fishhook Tire and Auto, Frontier Service Auto, Jenski Automotive, Master Auto Repair, Wasilla Automall/Wasilla Lube Express and Tews Automotive.

“This is how they like to give back to the community,” he told Davis. “Hopefully it gives you the boost you need.”

After getting the keys, Davis and the boys headed outside for yet more photos. One boy asked if the car had seat warmers. Another asked if the tires were studded.

“Yeah! I love that car!” shouted Brady, the tiny jingle bells tied to his boot laces ringing as he bounced with excitement.

Upon stepping outside, all of the boys immediately jumped in, filling all the available seats.

Davis said that her dad told her about the program and nominated her.

“I didn’t think I would win,” she said.

In his nominating form, her father, Patrick Glenn, writes that he and his wife help Davis as much as they can but they’re on a fixed income.

“She lives in our garage that she has fixed up into a very efficient one-room living space for her and her boys,” he said.

A vehicle, Glenn wrote, would be the next step along her path to creating an independent life for herself and the boys.

“We are very proud of our daughter and grandkids in taking on life and stepping up in all the positive ways they all have,” Glenn wrote.

At the ceremony, standing outside after the photos were taken, Davis got the title and paperwork from Bennice and gave him a hug.

“I’m just so blessed,” she said.

Contact Andrew Wellner at 352-2270 or andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com.