Car Donations Help Ease Veterans’ Stress

PRAIRIE VILLAGE, Kan. — Area Veterans got more than free dry cleaning at a grand opening on Saturday. Two people received free cars.

Dennis  Bryson and Drew Soman don’t know each other. One was in the Navy while the other was a Marine. Bryson fought in Vietnam and Soman fought in the Middle East. They have one thing in common. Both are Veterans and desperately need a car. Bryson was diagnosed with cancer in January. His wife drives him to treatment. When their old $700 car broke down, it left them stranded.

“It was greasy and the belt flew off,” said Berdina Bryson. “The belt flew off and I never knew the belt could go down so far.”

Now, they are no longer stranded.

“On behalf of Tide Dry Cleaners and Cars for Heroes, we appreciate everything you have done for this country,” said Jim Barry. “I know this doesn’t solve everything, but I hope this solves your way of getting to treatment.”

Soman and his family of five have been sharing a car since he got out of the military.

“It’s been hard with one car, going to work and he goes to school and all the kids trying to drop them off at different places,” said Soman’s wife Danielle. “It’s been quite an adventure.”

On Saturday, things got better for the family.

The Soman’s can fit their entire crew into the Dodge Durango they received. It means while his wife works as a nurse, he can get to and from school and build on his new dream of becoming a therapist at the V.A.

The cars were donated by people who want to give back for the high price American Veterans have already paid.

“A lot of people want to help a vet so they donate a car,” said Terry Franz with Cars for Heroes.  “It doesn’t matter if its running or not it helps us. We will steal parts or do whatever to turn something else into a car.”

Click here to donate or apply for a vehicle through Cars for Heroes.