Program gives deserving family a new car

KANSAS CITY, Missouri - You've never seen a Ford happier to see a Dodge. The Ford family was given a Dodge Grand Caravan Monday through the “Cars for Heroes” program,

There were plenty of grateful smiles among the Ford family at Wornall Automotive. If you think a '96 Dodge Grand Caravan isn't that great of a ride, you haven't walked in their shoes.

"I just keep prayin and havin faith. Prayer and determination,” veteran Jovan Ford said.

When Ford returned from serving in Iraq, he had a run of bad luck. He's managed to battle back to walking and talking after having an aneurism. Then the family lost their home. And then…

"We rented a car to go pick up my kids off of summer vacation and come back and our vehicle was gone,” Ford said.

So now that they have a van from the “Cars for Heroes” program,their hope is it will turn things around.

"I gave 'em the one tool that can get 'em out and maybe get back on their feet...find another home,” said “Car Santa” Terry Franz.

“Cars for Heroes” gives dependable rides to veterans and their families.

"It’s gonna help my family tremendously. Not only that, I get to pass the blessing on to someone else,” Ford said.

That's right -- their first thoughts are to share their gift with others.

"If I see someone else in the same predicament that I’m in I can give them a ride as well,” Ford said.

And that fits right in with the spirit of cars for heroes.

"We’re gonna come out here every Monday for ‘Military Mondays’ and give a car to somebody somewhere in town,” Franz said.

So if you want that holiday feeling this summer, “Car Santa" has a message for you:

"Donate a car and we'll keep helping as many vets as we can."