As high school and college collision school students begin to return for their fall semesters, the Collision Repair Education Foundation is seeking donated collision tools, equipment, supplies, products, scrap parts and other related items to assist collision school instructors who face limited collision budgets. In-kind product donations are tax-deductible through the Education Foundation and can be distributed to collision school programs locally by the donors or can be provided to schools in need on a national level. Everything from safety glasses to large equipment is needed by collision instructors.

To help ensure that collision students look professional in their programs when they begin their fall semester, the Education Foundation will provide over 2,000 uniforms to collision students through industry corporate sponsors such as: Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA); Bar’s Products/Rislone; National Coatings & Supplies; Hollander Inc., a Solera company; and UniCure Spraybooths. The technician shirts will be initially offered to those schools that applied for the 2015 Ultimate Collision Education Makeover grant.

“Industry companies who have items that can donated to collision school programs are asked to contact the Education Foundation and together as an industry we can show these students that their technical education is greatly valued,” said Collision Repair Education Foundation Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode. “Instructors have very limited budgets, and every bit of assistance helps them provide the best technical education possible. Also, the thousands of Cintas uniforms that will be distributed this fall help allow the collision student’s look and feel professional. We cannot thank our industry sponsors and supporters enough for helping make these uniforms possible.”

Those interested in joining the Collision Repair Education Foundation in supporting local collision school programs should contact Eckenrode at [email protected] or (847) 463-5244.