Community outreach program donates a life-changing gift to two veterans from New Jersey
CLIFTON (WABC) -- A community outreach program presented a special gift as a way to give back to two veterans who risked their lives for our country.
Dominick Carpentieri and Michael Arocho are two former Marines who have overcome post-service battles to keep their lives going in the right direction.
Several companies partnered with the National Auto Body Council to gift Carpentieri and Arocho with refurbished cars in hopes of improving their quality of life.
"I thought it was going to be something simple but this is not simple," Arocho said.
The Auto Body Council and other sponsor companies help find quality cars in places like New Trimble Auto Body and volunteer their talent and team to bring the cars back to life.
"We all gotta help out and I'm giving back to the community," owner of New Trimble Auto Body Ivo Rodriguez said
Arocho is using the GI bill to become a full-time student. Now he can drive his Mitsubishi Mirage to Bergen Community College instead of always making the trip by bike.
"I go from Hackensack to Paramus, so it's about 8 round," Arocho said.
Carpentieri counsels fellow veterans a few times a week and his old car, which was nearing 210,000 miles, was making travel difficult.
"I still have my respect for my older car, she was a good ol' girl," Carpentieri said.
Those days are over as both men were overwhelmed by the love they received in Clifton, New Jersey.
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