Gifting an Automobile to a Deserving Veteran

Fishkill, NY December 19, 2023 — The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9215 Upper Nyack, NY, the Rotary Club of Nanuet-West Nyack, and Rockland County Veterans Services Agency are proud to announce that they have gifted a vehicle to a disabled veteran, Michael Finlay on December 19, 2023 at 11:00am at the home of the veteran in Fishkill, NY.

These organizations have worked together to help veterans in need and have gifted numerous vehicles in the past. The VFW receives vehicles as donations from community members and collaborates with the Nanuet-West Nyack Rotary Club and the Rockland County Veterans Service Agency to repair and or refurbishe the cars for a needy, worth and deserving veterans. The VFW works with auto repair shops and staff members to repair vehicles on their own time and recruit suppliers, parts vendors, and auto repair and service centers to contribute in their own specific ways. The VFW and Nanuet-West Nyack Rotary provide funds for expenses associated with repairs and other related needs. In the past, these have included gas gift cards and car seats for children, supermarket food cards, etc.

“This is a key initiative for our Rotary Club said Shannon Modafferi. They worked with the Pie Man Restaurant in Valley Cottage, NY and Tempo Property Solutions to do fundraising contributing to the cost of the automobile repairs. “The Rotary Club feels it is important to our community and veterans,” stated Shannon Modafferi. Guy Gebbia, former Commander of the VFW Post 9215, stated, “Together we will bring much needed vehicles to veterans and their families. The auto will improve the quality of Michael’s life significantly.”

Michael Finlay is the recipient of this year’s automobile. He is a disabled veteran, a single parent with two children 11 and 12 years old. Michael was a US Navy Machinist Mate (nuclear) second class E5 who served his country from 2007 to 2012 in the middle east onboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt CVN-71 in the Enduring Freedom campaign. He said, “Having a good working vehicle will help me and my family achieve a more normal life. Reliable transportation will no longer be an obstacle”.

The gifting ceremony took place in the driveway in Fishkill, NY. An effort was made to gift the auto to Michael before Christmas so he and his family would enjoy the holiday season and travel to celebrate the holiday with others. The car for this year’s event has been donated by Mr. Thomas Preston. Michael’s auto was serviced by a service center that wishes to remain anonymous.

The participation of VFW Post 9215, the Rotary Club of Nanuet-West Nyack, and local service centers shows commitment to our veterans and our local community. Guy Gebbia says, “It is an honor for us to be able to provide transportation to our veterans and their families. We feel it is a hand up, not a hand out. It fulfills their needs to get to a job, to go to a doctor’s appointment or other places they couldn’t go without dependable transportation.