Underriner Gives "life saving" Gift of a Free Car To Struggling Single Mom
Santa and Black Underriner present Christina, Kaden, and Audrey Mott with a new car. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
By Cole Goodwin
The Dalles Ore.,December 7, 2023 — Underriner Ford and Nissan of The Dalles was filled with tears and big hearted smiles on Wednesday as the Mott family gratefully received the gift of free gently used Ford Edge, with a trunk full of Christmas presents, including a $250 gas card.
The car giveaway was a result of the collaborative effort of the United Way of the Columbia Gorge, Skamania County Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (SCCDVSA) and the car dealership.
A single mother of three, Christina has had a tough go of it, from surviving domestic violence, to parenting a special needs child, to recent health issues that have rendered her unable to work.
Despite everything though she’s still found ways to give back, including babysitting for other single moms and caring for her sick neighbors.
Her big heart in the face of hardship is why she was nominated to receive the vehicle.
“We nominated her because she’s a model client, she’s a real success story and she’s just really selfless. She recently helped a neighbor that was dying…And things have been hard for her since her car broke down,” said Lisa Alexander, Executive Director of SCCDVSA.
Christina recalls that fateful day well.
“We’ve had a few hard years and last year was our hardest,” says Christina, “Over the summer my car’s head gasket blew, it started steaming. And we were stuck on the side of 14 with my two kids out in the rain and nobody stopped.”
She pauses to wipe away a tear recalling those difficult moments.
Santa and Black Underriner present Christina, Kaden, and Audrey Mott with a new car. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
She tells me that after what felt like ages, a couple that was visiting from South Carolina pulled over and gave them a ride home.
“They brought us home and the down to the local store AJ’s and were able to get us food and brought us over lunch for that day and candy for my kids to help them through a hard time."
The Underriner’s office dog provided some extra love and emotional support to the Mott family and received some cuddles in return. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
When the next day came, it became clear that things were about to get a lot tougher for the Mott family without a car.
“In Stevenson we don’t have buses and Uber and Lyft. We don’t have food delivery,” explains Christina.
“I was borrowing my neighbor's car until she passed away a month ago. She was on oxygen and she had two different types of cancer. We’ve known her for eight years and every year she would make my kid's cookies. She was like family to us. And then two weeks ago she passed and then my oldest brother passed,” Christina pauses to collect herself, but it’s clear her grief is still close to the surface.
Because of her lack of transportation, she wasn’t able to attend her brother’s funeral.
“That was really really hard for me,” says Christina.
A lack of transportation also contributed to her list of woes in dealing with recent health problems and not being able to get to doctor’s appointments. She’s had to resort to tele-health to get care and put important appointments on hold because she would have to travel too far to seek specialist care.
“I’m having a lot of back issues, I’ve been having MRI's and CT's and I have to get x-rays now. I do video calls with a doctor in Seattle because I have to see a specialist. It’s just been hard,” says Christina.
For Christina, as a single disabled mom, the gift of a car is literally life changing.
Christina is looking forward to being in the driver’s seat of her own vehicle.
“This means everything to me. I can get to my doctor's appointments. And not have to worry about how I am going to get a ride? How am I going to get a ride down to the store if we run out of milk? How am I going to pick up my kids if they get sick? This car is literally a life saver,” says Christina, noting the weight off worry that has been on her shoulders since she lost her transportation.
On top of donating the car to Christina, the dealership also pulled together funds to purchase surprise Christmas gifts for Christina’s kids.
The spirit of Christmas giving came alive in her kids eyes, and it was as if it was Christmas morning. And the dealership got to watch their joy unfold as the family unwrapped their presents from Santa on the show floor at Underriner Ford and Nissan.
Christina’s kids unwrapping the Christmas gifts suprises they found in the trunk of their families new car. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
Kaden, age 11, who is on the spectrum, joyfully received several Sonic related gifts that were on his wish list including some Lego sets, and Audrey received several Barbie related gifts from her wish list. They also both received highly prized Squishmallows, a popular stuffed toy.
The kids test out the new car and decide it has enough room to help this family get around. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
United Way also provided them five tickets to United Way’s 12th Annual Rock the Holidays benefit concert on December 10th at 4 p.m. the Best Western Plus Hood River Inn. The concert will feature rock violinist, Aaron Meyer.
A flyer about United Way’s 12th Annual Rock the Holidays benefit concert.
“This is a fairy tale. I feel like I won the lottery, but like the car lottery. It’s just a dream come true. I have cried and cried and cried and I feel like I’m in awe. I’m just so grateful for this. I don’t even know-it’s just a lot. I feel like it’s a dream. I’m just so so grateful,” said Christina.
The kids agreed and gave big hugs and big thanks to Santa and to everyone who came out to support making this a life changing Christmas for a family in need.
Audrey gives a big hug to Santa. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
Instead of having to scramble and ask her neighbors or her teenage son Dillon for a ride to the grocery store, and offering up gas money for rides to her MRI’s or to pick up her kids, she’ll have the security and freedom that comes with having her own car.
On top of that she hopes that now they’ll be able to do more things together as a family outside of the home.
“Last summer we were home every day and I didn’t get to take my kids anywhere, you know, even just a drive down to the beach for the day. So, now we can actually go to places that we want to go and getting to doctor’s appointments is huge. Now I can go to see a specialist and get my x-rays on my back and see what has to happen next for me” said Christina.
“They are such a deserving family,” said Caroline Grew, Executive Director of United Way of the Columbia Gorge.
Underriner agrees and is glad to be a vehicle for good in the Columbia River Gorge.
“Giving back to our community is at our core, it has been for the last 80 years. My Great-Grandfather, my Grandfather, my parents and us, we’ve always believed that we have to support the community that we live, whether that’s giving away a car to a deserving member of the community, or that’s doing good and sponsorships and partnering with United Way and other organizations to make the community a better place,” said Blake Underriner, Managing Partner of Underriner Ford and Nissan of The Dalles.
The Underriner’s have done car giveaways at their location in Billings Montana for years, and they are glad to bring the giveaway to the Gorge.
“Efficient, safe, and affordable transportation is a key component to not only a family’s financial success through employment but their ability to be part of our community and have access to essential life-shaping opportunities that enable people to improve their living conditions and escape poverty. We are excited to bring our Annual Car Giveaway to The Dalles. It touches all of our lives, and we look forward to it each year at our other locations,” said Underriner.
SCCDVSA, Santa, Kaden, Audrey, Christina Mott, Blake Underriner, Caroline Grew, Paul Blackburn, Jenniffer Martin, and Destiny Peralta pose for a photo. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
“I’m proud of this project, because each of us is doing what we can do. We don’t have cars. Mr. Underriner has cars. But we know the community and we can work with our recipient non-profits to come up with wonderful candidates who are deserving of this donation,” said Paul Blackburn, Volunteer President of United Way of the Columbia Gorge.
“It’s like being a matchmaker. We serve twenty-seven organizations, so we invited all twenty seven organizations to submit nominations for this process. We received ten nominations and we had a committee review the nominations and we selected out top five and then Blake and his team selected Christina as the final recipient…We were trying to select the perfect candidate and Christina and her family are just so deserving of this vehicle,” said Grew.
On top of nominating Christina to receive the car, SCCDVSA also provided Christina and her kids with a ride to the dealership from Stevenson.
SCCDVSA supports their community in many ways, and today that meant nominating a deserving community member to receive a free car. Jennifer Martin, Legal Advocate, Destiny Pearlta, Legal Adovcate, Lisa Alexander, Executive Director of SCCDVSA where proud to support Christina by nominating her to receive the gift of transportation. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
Christina says she doesn’t know where she’d be without their help.
“They’ve been in my life a long time. I’m a domestic violence survivor. I barely survived a few years back and it was pretty bad but they’ve helped me a lot. I know I can reach out to them anytime for anything. They’ve been such a support. They have a DV group and do counseling too,” said Christina.
Christina wanted to encourage other survivors to have hope in spite of life’s challenges.
“Don’t give up. Keep going. Look at how far I’ve come being a domestic violence survivor, my health issues. Just keep the faith. And reach out. There’s so many agencies that can help. Reach out to friends and family, reach out to me. I’ll be there as a support because I know what it’s like to go through it alone,” said Christina.
For more information about local resources for struggling individuals and families visit https://c-gorge-resourceguide.com/.
