Essential Worker Gifted Van

By Marva J. Sneed
Columnist

Sheriff Marian Brown, Commissioner John Wiley Price, and other Dallas County officials joined with area car dealers to present essential worker Devon Gabriel with a 2017 fully-equipped, wheelchair-accessible Dodge Caravan. “Good corporate citizens continue to create ways to give back to this community,” said Commissioner Price, as he praised members of the North Texas Automobile Dealers (NTAD). “Their willingness to enrich the lives of others has taken many forms and has intensified during this COVID-19 pandemic.“

President C. Brent Franks, along with other members of NTAD, including Tom McCollum, President, and CEO of Goodson Acura and Don Herring, CEO of Don Herring Mitsubishi expressed their commitment to giving back to those in need, like Gabriel, who was joined by his mother, Dallas County Deputy Sheriff Catrina Gabriel. “This was a collaborative effort of North Texas Automobile Dealers,” Franks said. “We came together to solve a need for an essential worker.”

Dep. Sheriff Gabriel was moved to tears. Their family was sorely in need of a new vehicle that was handicapped-accessible, which can be very costly, was definitely a blessing. “The only words I have is, thank you.” Those words were also echoed by her son, who said, “I love you and thank you.