Veteran, Single Mom Of 2 Gifted Restored Car, And Gets Her Voice Back

NEW LENOX, IL — It was a $150 Uber ride to New Lenox, but hopefully the last Kathryn Spangler will have to take.

Spangler, a U.S. Air Force veteran and single mother of two children ages 9 and 13, hopped in the ride from her home in Woodstock, to a collision repair shop in New Lenox—where her own car was waiting for her and her children.

Crash Champions, in partnership with Allstate Insurance and as part of the National Auto Body Council’s Recycled Rides program, gifted Spangler a used Honda Fit—restored to like-new condition by certified auto body technicians at Crash Champions. Spangler was nominated to receive the refurbished vehicle by Veterans Path to Hope, a nonprofit organization that provides support programs and services to veterans and their families.

It's the first car of Spangler's own, since she was forced to sell hers three years ago in order to make rent. With a steep rent increase of $325, Spangler faced eviction and homelessness. Selling her Grand Cherokee was her only option at the time.

"It was a series of unfortunate events," she told Patch. "I sold my car, stayed for the rest of my lease. And then I didn’t have a car."

And so they walked. For three years. They walked wherever they could, whenever they could.

Spangler, who suffers from PTSD, found herself in poverty, and leaned into available resources for veterans, including Veterans Path to Hope.

"I was almost homeless," she said. "I got some help, they helped me immediately. They put me in an apartment.

"... It’s very tricky to get out of poverty, once you’re in it."

Spangler utilized Patriot Rides—a service that gives veterans Lyft or Uber rides to work—to get to her job at a Barrington health care product company. Last summer, she explored a pharmacy technician program through Walgreens, and is currently in school. She'd also like to work with the Department of Veterans Affairs in the future. Specifically, she'd like to focus on suicide prevention efforts within the veteran community.

"There are still 22 vets committing suicide each day," she said. "That needle has never moved. … I have danced in that darkness, and it’s very difficult. ... There’s not an uplifting ‘out’ of many situations."

Spangler had been nominated to receive the car in early 2024 and, amid her struggles, admittedly had forgotten about it.

"Last summer was very, very difficult," she said. "It was just a third year like this. I don’t know how much more I can take."

Spangler drew support from Veterans Path to Hope's housing specialist, affectionately known to her as Cyndi.

"Cyndi has been one of my biggest cheerleaders," Spangler said.

It was Cyndi who let Spangler know in November 2024 that she had won the car. It made almost an instantaneous difference in Spangler's outlook.

"I had one of the better Christmases I’ve had, because that created something for me to look forward to," she said. "My kids experienced me differently this Christmas."

Then, there was more waiting, until the car was ready for pickup earlier this month.

“The Crash Champions team is thankful for the opportunity to work with our national and local partners on such a meaningful cause,” said Matt Ebert, Crash Champions founder and CEO. “We are deeply grateful for those who selflessly serve our country and are proud to support such a deserving recipient like Kathryn. We hope that this refurbished vehicle will be a significant resource for Ms. Spangler and her family and will support her in her pursuit of giving back to those in need.”

NABC Recycled Rides is a collaborative program through which businesses representing all facets of the collision repair industry team up to repair and donate vehicles to individuals and families needing reliable transportation. Since the program's inception in 2007, more than 3,500 vehicles valued at some $51 million have been donated.

Spangler picked up her car on April 15.

"It gave me a sense of relief, but also, it gave me a sense of my power back," she said. "Trauma devastates your voice. To be given a platform to speak about what this is like, is empowering. That’s one of the things I see myself doing, specifically with the car. It’s given me some of my agency back."

The car, she said, "is so cute and fun." It has 39,000 miles on it, and "there was hardly anything wrong with it."

"I am incredibly grateful to all those involved in this life-changing donation who came together to meet the basic yet crucial need for transportation," said Spangler. "Having the ability to drive myself to and from work and transport my kids will significantly improve our situation and set us up for success in the future."

Spangler said her faith has grounded her throughout the years. She hopes to thank each agency involved, but until then, keeps them in her prayers.

"I’m a believer, I spend a lot of time in prayer," she said. "What I’ve prayed for, is not just to bless me, but bless every single person who touched this situation. To abundantly bless them. To make it no doubt that it was God."

Having gone without a car for so long, it's a reality adjustment.

"I’ve had it for a week, and I literally forget I have it," she said, with a chuckle.

She looks forward to advocating on trauma recovery, and believes the car enables her to expand her reach.

"I will talk now," she said. "I was very quiet.

"This has given me that back, and it’s wonderful."