Sands Chevrolet swaps out van for widowed mother
February 23, 2009
When Surprise employee Debbie Sullivan went to Sands Chevrolet in Surprise last week, she expected the dealership’s mechanics to take a look under the hood of her beat-up minivan and tell her the slew of work that had to be done to it.
She knew well the wear and tear on the 1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette, from the inoperable windows to the broken air-conditioner. But instead of a maintenance check followed with bad news, Sullivan – a recently widowed mother of four, soon to be five – got a car swap.
Working with city leaders, the dealership replaced Sullivan’s aged car with a 2005 Saturn minivan that has working windows, a healthy air-conditioner and about one-third of the mileage of her old car.
Her husband, Eugene, 39,died unexpectedly in January, leaving Sullivan on her own with four children, ages 10 months to 8 years. Sullivan, 36, who is the assistant to the city manager, also is expecting her fifth child in May.
Ever since her husband’s death, Sullivan and her family have received an outpouring of support from city employees, caring neighbors and complete strangers.
“I have never met more caring people in my entire life,” said Sullivan, who recently moved from Illinois to Surprise with her family to get a new start.
Help first came from Councilman Richard Alton, who spearheaded efforts to help the Sullivans.
“I saw a family in need, desperate need, and I was trying to help,” said Alton, who was recognized for his work in the matter at last week’s City Council meeting.
A neighbor is helping Sullivan with child care, the Surprise police employees union held a barbecue fundraiser this month and city employees have donated gift cards and necessities.
“Everything that they’ve been doing,” Sullivan said. “There aren’t enough words to express my gratitude.”
Buzz Sands, owner of Sands Chevrolet, said dealerships generally do charity car swaps from time to time.
“If we can make someone who has had an extraordinary amount of ill fortune, if we can help, we’d be happy to,” he said.
For more information, or to visit Sands Chevrolet’s newest dealership online visit http://www.SandsSurprise.com
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