Stevenson family gifted reliable vehicle by Underriner Ford/Nissan

Blake Underriner said his employees were busy elves over the past few weeks, purchasing and wrapping the gifts, but also ensuring that the SUV’s mechanics were sound, right down to the windshield wipers and engine belts. The dealership provided the SUV and all the parts, but his workers got the vehicle ready to present to the Mott family. The dealership also provided a one-year warranty for the Edge.

Christina Mott was among 10 people nominated to receive the SUV. She had to show that she could afford to pay for insurance and fuel, but more importantly, that she had a great need for reliable transportation.

The Underriner family have conducted car giveaways at their Billings, Mont., dealership for a number of years, so when fourth-generation dealer owner Blake Underriner purchased the former Ray Schultens Ford and Nissan in late February, he offered to extend the program to the Columbia River Gorge region.

He talked with United Way of the Columbia Gorge Executive Director Caroline Grew at the agency’s annual gala on Oct. 7 at the Best Western Plus Hood River Inn. He invited her and Jeff Heater, president of the Wasco Sherman Council for United Way, to visit the dealership. The dealership has partnered with the United Way of Yellowstone County to find a worthy recipient there. Grew and Heater quickly accepted his offer to bring the program to the Gorge.

United Way contacted 27 nonprofit agencies throughout the Gorge, inviting them to nominate someone to receive the car. Ten agencies submitted names, which were winnowed down to five names by a 10-member review committee consisting of United Way board members and county council members in the five counties served by United Way. Employees of Underriner selected Mott from the five potential recipients.

Lisa Alexander, director of the Skamania County Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, who nominated Mott, said Mott was very deserving of the gift.

“She is one of our success stories because she’s done the work to come to a different place in her life,” she said.

The 44-year-old single mother of three children had taken control of her life when she moved to Stevenson eight years ago. She sought help from domestic violence council to put her past firmly behind her. She continues to participate in programs offered by the agency, helping other women (and men) learn new strategies for living their lives.

She suffered a setback a year ago when the head gasket blew on her 2003 Mitsubishi while traveling home on State Route 14. She got through the past year with help from the agency, as well as neighbors and friends. She borrowed a car from her neighbor, Mary Kane, to get to medical appointments for herself and one of her three children. However, Kane died in November, so Mott was once more without dependable transportation.

That changed dramatically on Dec. 7, when she received the keys to the 2008 Ford Edge. The dealership installed a new transmission, and checked all the other functions of the car, including filters, wiper blades and engine belts.

“This is truly a life-changing gift for the Mott family,” Grew said.

When Mott learned the news that she would receive the Ford Edge, she said she felt she was dreaming. Her emotions have run high for the past days in anticipation of receiving the car on Dec. 7 at the dealership. The news came on the heels of Kane’s death, followed by the unexpected death of her older brother, John, two weeks later.

“I feel I’m in a dream,” Mott said. “I’m so grateful for being chosen. I’ve had a lot of hardships this year.”

Alexander nominated Mott to receive a free car because “she’s really a good mother.”

Mott said she can no longer work due to a deteriorating spinal column, while 11-year-old Kaden is diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), so they both need transportation to medical appointments.

Her other children are Dylan, 18, and Audrey, who turns eight years old four days after Christmas.

“Transportation is such a huge need in our community,” Alexander said. “There are many reasons for Christina to have a vehicle, including getting to doctors’ appointments.”

Mott said friends and family in North Carolina, where she moved from eight years ago, don’t understand how not having a vehicle is a great impediment for her and many other residents.

“Our little town doesn’t have [numerous] buses, taxis, and Ubers,” she said. “It’s hard for people without cars.”

The domestic violence agency has been very supportive of her over the past eight years, Mott said.

“DV has been my life,” she said. “They’re not just about domestic violence. They do so much more. They do a lot with the community. They’re a good support system.”

Alexander and her staff joined Mott at the Underriner Ford/Nissan dealership in The Dalles on Dec. 7 to share her joy. All of the three dozen dealership employees were also there to see the joyfulness of Audrey, Kaden and Christina.