Photos by Shawn Nowlin
In less than seven weeks, Cuz’s Autobody Repair Shop in Salem took a donated van from the Goodwill and turned it into a serviceable resource for The Peacemakers, an area organization created to help prevent senseless violence and work towards real systemic change. The unveiling took place on Thursday, July 6, inside the shop.
Elected officials, police officers and community residents attended the ceremony. “It was my idea to start a community patrol unit so I felt a van was important. Goodwill Industries donated the van to us and Cuz’s body shop was kind enough to refurbish it for free,” Peacemakers founder Shawn Hunter said.
There were six sponsors for the unveiling of the van: Garland Properties, Nancy and Kevin Dye, Mayor Sherman Lea, Lowes, Sherman Lea Jr. and Wells Fargo. Courtesy of Chic-Filet and Dunkin Donuts, attendees were treated to coffee and biscuits.
William “Cuz” Wooding said there are two reasons why he refurbished the van for free. “Essentially, I felt it was for a great cause,” he said. “Years ago, I was the victim of a home invasion. That experience motivated me to use my resources to have a positive impact on the community.”
Four truck shop employees – Gary Mabes, Jacob Nolan-Painter, Brandon Meddings and Wayne Gillespie – did all of the body and paint work, according to Cuz.
The reason why Shawn believes it’s important to support grassroots organizations is because “these are people who live in the communities in which they are trying to clean up and make it a safe and decent place to live”.
While he is appreciative of the community donations that made the van unveiling possible, Shawn says it’s going to cost money to keep the van on the streets. “If they are able to, we ask that the citizens of Roanoke Valley make contributions to the Peacemakers to help cover our operating expenses on the van. We are of the mindset that every penny counts, both literally and figuratively,” he said. ““We are tax exempt and have a 501C3 status. People can send checks or money orders to The Peacemakers PO Box-6062 Roanoke, VA 24017.”
Shawn added, “I feel that community involvement is paramount to being proactive in prevention and education. Stopping the senseless violence that is plaguing the Roanoke Valleys is our ultimate goal.”
In the 21 years that William Wooding and his wife Peggy have owned Cuz’s Autobody Repair Shop, they say they’ve never done anything quite like the Peacemakers van unveiling. “Fixing the van took a lot of work but we would do it all over again in a heartbeat,” Cuz said. “This useful resource is our way of giving back to the community.”