Gifts for the Fallen

Last October, Dallas police officer Jacob Arellano was killed by an impaired driver on his way to work. He was only 25 years old and left behind fiancé Alyssa Rosales and their 1-year-old son.

Understanding she needed reliable transportation, Rosales was nominated to receive a vehicle by the Brotherhood For The Fallen, a nonprofit focused on furnishing emotional and financial support to families of fallen officers. Thanks to the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides® program and a partnership between the Caliber Restoring You™ giving platform and GEICO insurance, she was presented with the keys to a 2017 Nissan Rogue at an April 5 ceremony at Caliber headquarters in Lewisville.

Among those attending were four personnel from Caliber’s Castle Hills center which represented those who volunteered their time to restore the vehicle. They were General Manager Chad Lehr, Parts Manager Mitch Moore, Service Advisor Amy Hustead, and Office Manager Jessica Salcido.

The Castle Hills center learned it would be involved shortly after Thanksgiving and soon went to work on the vehicle that had about 45,000 miles on it.

“We went through the entire car,” Lehr said. “All the fluids were checked and changed out, the brakes were redone, and the calibrations were adjusted. We painted the body and did a full detail.”

“The goal is to make it look like it came out of the dealership when we give it away,” Hustead added.

“We want it to look better than the dealership would have offered you in a brand-new car.”
Caliber, which has more than 100 facilities in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, worked with a number of outside vendors donating parts and services.

“Caliber does this quite often. I’ve been involved in three other events like for Caliber,” Lehr said. “You know why you are doing it the whole time through all the different items you have to prepare. What will hit you hard is when we get to see the family receive the car.”

It was the first time being involved for Salcido and Moore.

“This is really cool to be employed by a company willing to donate so much time and effort into something for someone who is really in need is really awesome,” Salcido said. “I’m really proud to be part of it.”

“I’m very honored,” Moore said.

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