Lorenzo Mathis II, who uses public transportation to get himself and his five children to school, work and appointments, looked on in happy shock as his new car was unveiled to him Wednesday. 

Mathis, an Aurora resident and veteran, found out in January he’d been nominated for — and won — the vehicle through Recycled Rides, a program run by the National Auto Body Council (NABC). He accepted his family’s new ride at a ceremony Wednesday. 

The family is new to Aurora, having had to move twice due to a fire and other unfortunate circumstances. The Veterans Administration nominated him for the program to help him and his family have more reliable transportation in Aurora. 

Recycled Rides brings together businesses representing the collision repair industry to repair and donate vehicles to people in need of reliable transportation.

Mathis and his family were presented with a 2020 Kia Sportage — cleaned, repaired and serviced to look basically brand new in the garage of Crash Champions, one of the businesses that partners with the NABC. Allstate Insurance also partnered to get Mathis his new car.

The program began in 2007 and has since donated more than 3,300 vehicles, valued at about $47 million, according to a news release. 

Getting the car is a “new way of life,” Mathis said. 

Prior to having a car, Mathis and his family used public transportation to get to work, school and doctor’s appointments, he said. But delays, missed buses and other factors can make public transportation difficult, especially for a family of seven like his. 

“It’s like a weight off your shoulders,” Mathis said. “Having a car right now is life changing, it’s like hitting the lottery.”

He found out he was getting a car in January, when he got a call from his Veterans Administration representative, he said. 

Seeing the car for the first time Wednesday gave him butterflies, he said, grinning ear to ear. 

“I’ll be able to get more sleep because I won’t have to wake up three hours before my shift, taking my kids to their appointments, getting groceries,” he said. “It’s little things like that.”

Mike Fitzpatrick, vice president of Crash Champions, said the vehicle giveaways are the best part of his job.

A lot of the things Fitzpatrick deals with at work every day are challenging, but the giving back with vehicles makes it all worth it, he said. 

“We get to see the smiles and tears and we get to see kids happy,” Fitzpatrick said. “It’s one of the best days that I have in my career.”