Earnhardt teams with ABC15 to collect bicycles for St. Vincent de Paul

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Once again, Earnhardt Auto Centers is connecting good bikes with individuals and families in need. You can bring your gently used bikes to any Earnhardt location during the Second Chance Bike Drive. Your donated bicycle will find a good home with help from Earnhardt Auto Centers, ABC15 and St. Vincent de Paul.

Donations will be accepted throughout September. Bikes can provide affordable transportation to low-income individuals who need options to get to school, work or appointments.

The Bike Shop at St. Vincent de Paul has repaired bikes for 13 years, partnering with community organizations to donate the bikes to individuals in need. Bikes are also provided to individuals and families who come to St. Vincent de Paul for assistance from its shelters, dining rooms, food pantries, employment programs or other services.

Shelter residents and community members can also volunteer in the shop to refurbish bikes sold at St. Vincent de Paul thrift stores. Proceeds from these sales support the programs of St. Vincent de Paul. In addition, children’s bikes are often provided to kids during special holiday events.

“At Earnhardt, we’re in the business of people, transportation and supporting the communities that support us,” said Hal Earnhardt III, president of Earnhardt Auto Centers.

Bring your bicycle donations to any Earnhardt Auto Centers dealership. Find a convenient location here. Financial contributions are also welcome and will be used to purchase supplies to repair the bicycles. Donate online anytime at abc.com/bike.

Earnhardt Auto Centers founder Tex Earnhardt started the company in 1951 with a Chandler-based Ford franchise. Over the years, the company expanded, opening more dealerships with Tex at the head. Today, the company represents 15 brands at 17 dealerships throughout the Phoenix metro area.

Thank you, Earnhardt Auto Centers, ABC15 and St. Vincent de Paul, for helping to provide transportation options to people in the community!

Carolyn Sostrom

Carolyn Sostrom is a long-time Arizona resident who loves desert sunsets, warm weather, Zumba, and the Western lifestyle. She attended Saguaro High School in Scottsdale and then Arizona State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Similarly to the protagonist in *The Devil Wears Prada*, Carolyn moved to New York City right after college. She started working for the fashion magazine company Conde Nast but never transitioned to the dark side. After a few years, she left New York in the rearview mirror and returned to her home state, taking a reporter job at the *Apache Junction Independent*. With over 30 years of freelance writing experience, Carolyn especially enjoys writing about community events and profiling individuals who are making a difference in their communities. She had the pleasure of interviewing a variety of cowboy personalities for an article she wrote for the *Scottsdale Independent* about the history of DC Ranch and its roots as a working ranch. Now, her Western adventures with CLN have her diving into the rugged automotive scene, exploring the trucks and rigs cowboys rely on for work, home, and play, a niche where grit meets horsepower. She works at Raising Special Kids, a nonprofit resource center for families of children with disabilities and special healthcare needs. Carolyn also volunteers with the Autism Society of Greater Phoenix. Carolyn believes that everyone has a story, and she loves connecting with others to hear their stories. She’s dedicated to ethical journalism and accurate reporting, which shines through in her storytelling.