1.18.21 – Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP/NJ) member shop owner Jason Boggs (Boggs Auto Collision Rebuilders; Woodbury) and his team believe in giving back and helping those in need.

Each December, Boggs Auto Collision Rebuilders donates a vehicle to a well-deserving recipient in the area.

Boggs was at a 20 Group meeting 16 years ago when he learned about a body shop on the West Coast that repaired a totaled vehicle through AkzoNobel’s Benevolence Program and gave it to someone who was in need of transportation.

“We thought, ‘What a wonderful idea,'” Boggs says. “What a way to lift up the industry and do something good for the community. It was something we were capable of doing, so we jumped on board.”

The shop has donated repaired vehicles to community members and organizations for the past several years. The business works largely with local churches, schools and organizations to learn about potential recipients. Most recently, Boggs Auto Collision Rebuilders gifted a 2010 Mercury Milan to Dennis Snow of West Deptford.

“[Dennis] rides his bike to work every day; he was trying to save up for a car but was having trouble doing so. We did some background research, talked to his boss and co-workers and realized he was the right fit. Each year, someone just seems to rise way above the rest as the standout candidate for the vehicle, and it’s usually an easy decision.”

Snow also received a $1,000 gas gift card from Enterprise Rent-A-Car as well as a year’s worth of vehicle insurance from local agency Cettei & Connell, who Boggs says never hesitates to contribute to the program each year.

The shop gives away vehicles that are almost always totaled and often set to go to a salvage yard. Boggs works with the original owners and insurers to buy them back. From there, his team assesses the repairs needed. While vendors donated paint and materials for this endeavor in the past, the shop itself has taken on the purchasing of what is needed to repair the vehicles in recent years.

“We just think this is such a great thing for the industry. Anyone in the automotive industry can usually find a car with some life left that needs some TLC. We hope others will get the message that they can do this too or be part of helping this continue. The donation day is always our favorite day of the year.”

For more information on AASP/NJ, visit aaspnj.org.