Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories

Jasmaine West is shown with her new car. (Submitted images)
Jasmaine West is shown with her new car. (Submitted images)

Trocaire College nursing student receives refurbished car through Recycled Rides

Submitted

Tue, Feb 2nd 2021 02:25 pm

Donation comes from National Auto Body Council, Travelers and local auto repair partners

Just in time for the first week of the spring semester, Jasmaine West, a nursing student at Trocaire College, has received a refurbished car thanks to the generosity of Travelers and the National Auto Body Council’s Recycled Rides program. Through this collaboration, businesses representing all facets of the collision industry – insurers, auto repair shops, paint suppliers, parts vendors and others – partner to refurbish and donate vehicles to individuals and service organizations in need.

Last week, West received the keys to her 2014 Buick Verano, newly restored by Gerber Collision located in Tonawanda.

“Receiving this vehicle will mean stability with traveling back and forth to school and work, in addition to being able to provide for my family,” West said. “It’s good to know that working hard and being able to beat the odds can be noticed, and I am extremely grateful!”

Derrick Gunter, coordinator of Trocaire’s “Pathways to Nursing Success” program, was made aware of Recycled Rides last year. He soon nominated West, who graduated from Trocaire in 2020 with her associates degree in nursing and is now earning her bachelor’s degree while working as an LPN at Mount St. Mary’s Hospital in Lewiston.

A mother of three and caregiver for her own mother, West commutes from her home in Niagara Falls to Trocaire’s South Buffalo campus several times a week for her classes, program requirements, and to serve as a mentor for other nursing students. In addition, she is a leading member of the Infinity Club, a student group that strives to increase diversity in the health care field. She volunteers in the community when she can, including at Schiller Park Senior Citizen Center.

“Jasmaine has been part of the Trocaire family since 2017 and is a motivated and honorable scholar who seeks to have an impact on the health care field,” Gunter said. “Like so many of our students, she is doing an excellent job with continually balancing her academic, professional and family obligations – which will now be a little easier to manage thanks to the generosity of Travelers and the Recycled Rides program.”

Through Recycled Rides, more than 2,500 vehicles valued at $36 million have been donated in communities across the country since 2007.

“For more than a decade, our team has participated in the Recycled Rides program and worked with the National Auto Body Council and local auto body shops to help people in need,” said Nick Seminara, executive vice president and chief claim officer at Travelers. “We’re dedicated to supporting our communities, and we’re pleased to be able to provide Jasmaine and her family with a safe and reliable vehicle.”

For more information on Recycled Rides, visit its website.

Founded in 1958 in Buffalo by the Sisters of Mercy, Trocaire College is a private, career-oriented Catholic college that strives to empower students toward personal enrichment, dignity and self-worth through education. Trocaire offers bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, certificates and workforce development programs in health care, business, hospitality and technology. Visit www.trocaire.edu for more information or follow Trocaire on Facebook and Twitter.

Hometown News

View All News