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A woman we only know as Rhonda called The Columbian this week and told us a pretty remarkable story. But she only gave us a few details and, given the circumstances of her life, we had trouble getting back in touch with her. So we called the auto body shop she mentioned, and the story was confirmed. Around 8 p.m. a week ago Wednesday, Rhonda was driving her 1986 Toyota Celica when pulled over by Vancouver Police Department officers. The car's front bumper was dragging, the windshield was cracked, the tires were shot and the hood was held down with duct tape. The officers didn't ticket her, but told her the car was unsafe to be on the road. Around the same time, Dorothy and Paul Mabie, owners of Cascade Auto Body at 2600 E. 33rd St. in Vancouver, returned to their shop because they weren't sure the business had been closed properly. Chance return Dorothy Mabie said going back to the shop that late at night is highly unusual, but they decided to make sure the potpourri pot in the lobby had been turned off. Shortly after their arrival, Rhonda pulled up in her Celica, asking if she could park the car there overnight while she figured out what to do. She told the Mabies she was homeless and had given up her children to her ex-husband following incidents of domestic abuse by a former boyfriend. She explained she was trying to get her life back but really didn't know how she'd be able to get her car fixed. The Mabies agreed to take her to a motel that had been arranged by a social worker and asked for her keys so they could move the car. Getting the spirit The next morning, after checking out her story with the social worker, the Mabies had an idea. They called Rhonda and got her permission to fix the car enough to make it street-safe. Then they spoke with their employees, who had ideas of their own. Once the work started, the giving spirit spread. Dr. Bob's Auto Glass, Vancouver, donated a windshield, Hillsboro Auto Wrecking contributed a hood and fenders, and Beaverton Toyota donated a reinforcement bar for the bumper. Cascade purchased tires and seat covers and did the body work, which included a paint job. Shop employees flushed the radiator, changed the oil and dipped into their own pockets to buy a tank of gas. "Something wonderful came into that shop," Dorothy Mabie said. "I've never seen them (employees) so happy." Mabie estimated the retail cost of the work would have been about $1,500, but the final bill was "no charge." Rhonda returned a week later and was stunned. She promised the Mabies and the Cascade employees that she will get her life in order, which Dorothy Mabie said was the only payment they would accept. |
| Holiday spirit gets a lift at auto body shop By Steven Gardner published in The Columbian, Dec. 15, 2001 |
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