Community-minded citizens of Cache Valley, Utah, are spreading Christmas cheer for the ninth year in a row with a viral car giveaway. A multitude of local businesses have chipped in to help the Cache County Christmas Car Project donate vehicles filled to the brim with gifts to neighbors in need. The Charity will give away 7 cars as gifts this holiday season.
According to Jason Hansen, the original plan was to repair damaged vehicles and give them to the needy. Hansen’s wife, Kristie, explained “This is 100% God. The only way that Jason and I can continue to do this is because we are blessed by people in the community who help us out and support us. … We are just trying to share God’s love through the community.”
Cache Valley residents can nominate people to receive the gift cars. After a candidate is selected, workers for the charity identify specific needs so the gifts can be as impactful as possible. Often, Ty Mortensen, who lives nearby, dresses as Santa to surprise the families with exciting gifts. A recent donation, shows an emotional scene as one woman remarks “Thank you. I appreciate it so much,” she said, “I wouldn’t have been able to do this without my community”:
On the Cache County Christmas Car Project website, it states “Our mission is driven by the generous donations from individuals and businesses who believe in the power of giving. Every car we repair and gift represents not just a vehicle, but a new opportunity for families to access jobs, education, and essential services.” The charity works by buying a damaged vehicle and they accept donations to cover the cost of repairs.
While many of the donations come in the form of money, the web page also explains how local businesses contribute to the effort. A local transmission shop repaired a 2010 Subaru Forester free of charge. There was another case when they partnered with a body shop to bring an SUV back on the road. They also encourage donations of warm clothes and nonperishable food.
Hansen explains that he wants people to feel God’s love in their work. “I’m trying to do God’s work,” he said. He also explained how his charity is dedicated to “making a difference in the lives of families in need by providing them with repaired cars, completely free of charge.” In the 9 years since his project, Hansen has changed scores of lives for the better.
The website states “In our small charity, we also come together to pray over your families and your cars, recognizing that both are blessings from God. We believe that God loves you deeply and wants to protect and guide you in all aspects of your life. Through our charity efforts, we strive to spread this love and support, ensuring that you feel the warmth of our prayers and the strength of our collective faith.”
The Charity goes on to state that “Together, we can uplift one another, knowing that God’s love surrounds us all.“ In addition to giving away vehicles, Hansen’s charity participates in other volunteer work. He has organized ‘ wrapping parties’ so that community members can chip in. According to posts on their Facebook, the organization is trying to give away even more cars next year.
Featured image: Screen shot from embedded video.