ALPENA – The generosity of an Alpena man has allowed an Alcona County woman to continue to pursue her dreams after she was presented with the title of a vehicle that was donated to St. Vincent de Paul.

Tarra LeClair of Harrisville was selected to receive the car after the St. Vincent Board of Directors chose her letter that explained why she needed the car and how it would make her life better. LeClair explained in her letter that she works in home health care and needs a dependable car to carry out her responsibilities at work and to transport her child to and from day care and doctor appointments.

“This is amazing and it will make my life so much easier and be able to provide better for my child,” LeClair said.

An anonymous man dropped off the 2003 Chevy Malibu at the St. Vincent store hoping it would be given to someone who could use it. Assistant Manager Hope Ludwig said the vehicle needed some minor repairs, but overall was in really good shape. Carquest Auto donated the parts to have it fixed and The Shop auto repair shop did the installation and the car was ready for LeClair.

“There was no rust and it ran great, but there were a few things that needed to be fixed and we wanted to be sure it would be safe to drive,” Ludwig said. “Carquest and The Shop were very generous in helping us do this and we owe them a big thank you.”

Ludwig said St. Vincent de Paul has a national automobile program, but when a vehicle is donated, it often is given to someone from outside of the area the donation took place. She said the person who donated the Malibu stressed he wanted it to go to someone in the coverage are of Alpena, Alcona, Montmorency and Presque Isle counties.

Ludwig said it is rare a vehicle, especially one that needs little work, is donated but if others were to be given to the store, it will not a have a problem finding someone who needs it.

“We would definitely like to do this again, absolutely 100 percent” Ludwig said.

Ludwig said there were many letters received, each outlining from the sender why they need a car. Manager Sheri Allen said there were many people who had good reasons and she wishes they each could get one, but in the end all involved agreed LeClair was the right choice.

“It was such a hard decision,” Allen said. “In the end the difference was she was from Alcona, which doesn’t have any real public transportation. At least people in Alpena have Dial-a-Ride and the trolleys. She doesn’t have anything like that in Harrisville.”

LeClair said she is thankful for the car and although she doesn’t know who donated it, she wanted to share her appreciation to him.

“I want to tell him than thank you from the bottom of my heart,” LeClair said. “I can’t even say what this means to me.”

Steve Schulwitz can be reached via email at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5689. Follow Steve on Twitter ss_alpenanews. Read his blog, Upon Further Review … at www.thealpenanews.com.