Texas Midas Franchisee Refurbishes Toyota Camry for Veteran in Need

A Midas franchisee in Texas recently participated in National Car Donation Month by refurbishing a vehicle for a veteran in need, as recently shared by the company.

David Roeder, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, grew up dreaming of joining the Marine Corps and entered boot camp at Parris Island while still in high school. He served from 1993 to 1995 as a Communications Lineman with an Artillery Battery at Camp Lejeune, but a severe knee injury during a training exercise in the Sierras led to an honorable discharge. He went on to build a new career as an electrician to support his young family, but the physical effects of his injuries eventually made continuing in the trade impossible.

After facing a difficult period, including the loss of his marriage and a time of homelessness, David relocated to Granbury, Texas, in 2022 to care for his aging father. There, he started volunteering with American Legion Post 491 to support people experiencing homelessness.

Prior to the car donation, Roeder drove a Chevy HHR with more than 219,000 miles. The vehicle was increasingly unreliable, and has left him stranded multiple times. Roeder drives more than 150 miles each week to visit and assist his father, and hundreds more for volunteer service.

As part of the nationwide Midas Project Spark program, which helps deserving veterans and families get back on the road to independence, Robert Rangel—a Midas Franchise owner—reached out to help Roeder. With a parts donation from Carquest and support from 1-800-Cars, Rangel and his team volunteered their time to fully refurbish a Toyota Camry, ensuring it would be reliable and road-ready.