An auto repair shop in Camden County, Georgia, recently helped a local in need of transportation acquire a new vehicle through community fundraising.
According to a report from News4JAX, Annette Morales had brought her 2010 GMC Terrain into Royalty Auto Service after another shop told her the engine needed replaced—though Royalty Auto would be the first place to make it clear just how dire the situation was.
Morales had purchased the vehicle last October when she encountered issues within a week of owning it. She had taken it to other shops, but hadn’t received clear answers on what was going on until coming to Royalty Auto.
After inspecting and driving the vehicle, technicians found that the vehicle had extremely loud front wheel bearings, which shop owner Sherwood Cooke said were the worst he’d seen in 44 years.
“This vehicle is falling apart,” described Cooke.
Morales was told the vehicle was unsafe to drive due to its wheel bearings. A single mother of two daughters, she wasn’t in a place financially where she could cover the cost of repairs.
“I was scared to know what was wrong with the vehicle because we don’t have the funds to fix stuff,” said Morales.
The shop went ahead and replaced the bearings and put on new tires for Morales, but Cooke was motivated to go further to help her.
“We see a lot of people in need, but something about Annette just struck me,” Cooke said. “I told my son, ‘We’re going to do something for her.’”
So, Cook and his team launched a GoFundMe fundraiser for Morales’ transportation needs, raising over $160,000 that has gone to Morales. Royalty Auto will be helping Morales with purchasing a new, reliable vehicle for her to use.
“I just started crying on the phone,” recalled Morales of receiving the news. “That’s the transportation for me and my kids.”
