Wishing for Wheels: Local NAPA AutoCare Centers Join Forces

BOISE, ID: In what ways could we come together and have a positive impact in our community? What could we accomplish together that we could not do alone? Those questions and others were discussed and answered at a recent meeting of the NAPA AutoCare Business Development Group. The coalition of nine auto services providers, including Garry’s Automotive, Christian Brothers, State Street Auto Repair, Dr. Floyd’s Garage, Maz-Tech Automotive, and Heritage Auto Repair, has participated in Wishing for Wheels projects in the past.

These projects look different each time, but have a common thread. “We combine our resources to reach beyond what any one of us could do alone, to help a person or group in need that could not afford the repairs required to stay on the road,” wrote Tony Zanders of Heritage Auto Repair in Meridian. Zanders was recently presented with such an opportunity. Travis Culver is a local media personality who worked for a time at 89.5FM KTSY. He was a worship pastor at a local church, and recently has been developing a cable TV program called Love Where You Live. His livelihood is directly connected to his skills as a communicator. In September, at 39 years old, he heard these words, “It doesn’t look good. It appears you have cancer.”

“As a young father and husband, Culver is now faced with the traumatic realization that the tumors found in his brain after multiple MRI’s will affect his career, his family and his very life. He has been diagnosed as Stage 4,” Zanders said.  “He has been subjected to extensive procedures, chemotherapy, and surgeries; as well as the resulting physical challenges each of those present. Last week Culver brought his truck over for service with these instructions: Let’s go ahead and fix all those things you mentioned a while ago.”

Culver’s vehicle had multiple maintenance concerns and necessary repairs. “He wants to fix them all,” Zanders said. “Having a personal relationship with him, I asked him what his goal was for this repair.” Through tears, Culver said he just wants to take his family camping again, and not have to worry about his truck. The cost was more than $4000, and members from NAPA AutoCare Business Development Group donated all of the necessary work.

The community is also pitching in to help the Culver family:

How can you help? Donate today at the GofundMe page for Travis Culver at: https://www.gofundme.com/2s4mjpx8?ssid=805926671&pos=1. The Boise NAPA AutoCare Centers are a group of independent and family owned businesses. They co-op the cost to market together and bring you special offers available at their select autocare centers.  More information about NAPA AutoCare Business Development Group is available at http://napaautorepairboise.com/

VIDEO: This Week in Meridian, Idaho, January 27th!

Meridian is the second-largest city in Ada County, Idaho, USA, and the third-largest in the state. As of 2010, the population of Meridian was 75,092.
Having recently surpassed the eastern Idaho cities of Pocatello and Idaho Falls, the 2010 census placed Meridian as the third-largest city in Idaho behind Boise and Nampa, all in the Treasure Valley. Meridian is the state’s fastest-growing city, with an 81.5 percent increase in population since 2000.

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As of the census of 2000, there were 34,919 people, 11,829 households, and 9,515 families residing in the city (although today, the city’s population on street signs is 56,108). The population density was 2,962.1/sq mi. There were 12,293 housing units at an average density of 1,042.8 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 96.3% White, 0.7% African American, 1% Native American, 2% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 1.9% from other races, and 2.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.7% of the population.

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There were 11,829 households out of which 49% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.4% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.6% were non-families. 14.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.26.

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In the city the population was spread out with 33.7% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 37.1% from 25 to 44, 15.8% from 45 to 64, and 6.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 96.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.7 males.

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The median income for a household in the city was $53,276, and the median income for a family was $57,077. Males had a median income of $40,360 versus $27,174 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,150. About 4.6% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.