In the holiday spirit, a single mother received a vehicle Monday from a group of local businesses.

Joie Cureton, who works while also attending NWACC nursing school full time and raising a son, was gifted a 2019 Honda CR-V. She was previously using rideshare services to get around, which was both expensive and unpredictable.

“I just want to thank everybody for donating this to me and giving it to me,” Cureton said. “It’s going to make me and my son’s life so much easier. And finally, I'll be on time.”

It’s one of the cars gifted through NABC Recycled Rides, a program of a national industry group for auto body repair businesses. The car was donated by Farmers Insurance and refurbished by Brown’s Collision Center. It was previously totaled due to hail damage, but had no mechanical damage.

“I believe that it’s a responsibility to be able to share the blessings that we’ve been given on this earth,” Keith Brown, owner of Brown’s Collision Center, said. “It’s not quite Christmas, but it is the season of giving.”

The sponsors were connected to Cureton through the Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas.

Frankie Rankin leads the nonprofit and said last year it served more than 250 single parents and gave out about $1.1 million in scholarships.

“I just wanted to say how much we appreciate being a part of this today, our recipients are working really, really hard to meet their goals and to provide a better future for their families,” Rankin said. “And so we're honored that all of you that are here today have partnered with Brown’s and the rest of the group to make this possible.”

In addition to providing scholarships, the organization also offers support services such as counseling and a dry pantry, which provides household and personal care items.