Down-on-his-luck Tinley Park resident receives donated car from citizen volunteer group
Martin Jones gives a thumbs-up to the camera Friday, April 24, after being given a surprise car donation by the Tinley Park Citizen Volunteer Committee. The vehicle – which was donated by Joe Rizza Ford of Orland Park – was delivered to Jones’ home in Tinley Park. PHOTO SUBMITTED
TINLEY PARK, Ill.
There is bad luck, and then there is bad luck. Martin Jones and his wife definitely fall into the latter category.
After both worked for four decades, they found themselves unemployed with their 401ks emptied and living off their social security checks. Soon after, they were forced to give up their home in Palos Hills and start renting in Tinley Park.
“Some people have luck, and some people don’t,” Martin said. “I don’t know. We’ve just had a lot of bad luck.”
But Martin’s fortune was about to change, and it started with a phone call.
An introduction
Earlier this year, the Jones family was stretched thin. Their social security money would not arrive for a few more days, but they had more immediate concerns.
“We didn’t have any food in the house, I didn’t have a car and I didn’t have any money,” Martin said.
He called the Village of Tinley Park to ask for help. From there, he was put in contact with the Tinley Park Citizen Volunteer Committee.
Trustee Michael Glotz, a member of the committee, said Martin was able to receive assistance from the group as Assistant Village Manager Pat Carr delivered groceries to the couple. But after learning more about the family, Carr reached out to Glotz – who in turn called to check in on Martin.
“They told me how unlucky they have been,” Glotz said.
Martin recounted how when his car lease ended, his low credit led him to have to buy a vehicle. But with the high interest, Martin said he wound up having to pay more than $700 a month for the car payment. Factoring in a nearly $180-a-month car insurance payment, the Jones family started getting behind.
So, they gave up the car. When needed, they would rent one for five or six days at a time to do errands or go to appointments.
“It was very heartbreaking,” Glotz said.
After talking to the couple, Glotz knew he wanted to do something for the Jones family – and he enlisted Dan McMillan to help.
A helping hand
Glotz had worked with McMillan on a clothing drive for Together We Cope – a homeless prevention agency based in Tinley Park.
“Mike’s been pretty good about being very community-minded,” McMillan said of Glotz.
But McMillan also has spent countless hours doing charitable work. The 2017 Orland Park Adult Volunteer of the Year, McMillan said he grew up in a low-income situation. Now the chief financial officer at Joe Rizza Ford, he has volunteered in many ways – including raising funds for Misericordia.
“After you do those things, you get a sense of appreciation of what you have,” he said.
After Glotz spoke with him, McMillan went to Joe Rizza to see what they could do for the Jones family.
“Joe’s got a big love for giving back – there’s no doubt about it,” McMillan said. “I learned a lot of that from him. I’ve been working for him for 32 years. He gets it.
“Sometimes, we have good days and we have bad days. But it is still instilled in us that you always give back to the community, because it’s that saying – ‘for those who are given much, much is expected.’ We practice that.”
With McMillan’s help, the Tinley Park Citizen Volunteer Committee was able to secure a 1998 Ford Escort to donate to the Jones family. The vehicle – a trade-in only owned by one other person – had just 67,000 miles on it.
Glotz said Joe Rizza Ford took care of all the costs, minus insurance.
“We’re always happy to help,” McMillan said.
Martin Jones (middle) is all smiles with Dan McMillan (left) and Trustee Michael Glotz (right) after receiving a donated car on Friday, April 24. PHOTO SUBMITTED
Making a difference in someone’s life
Martin said that Glotz called him a few days before April 24 to say he was going to drop by with a few people to talk about a car. But he hardly could have expected what happened that Friday.
In the early evening, Martin said he saw Glotz, McMillan and another person walking toward the house. But when he turned to his left, Martin saw a handful of others heading his way. Some were holding cameras.
“I thought, ‘What the heck is going on?’” Martin said. “One minute later, two cars pulled up in the driveway.”
One of those was the 1998 Ford Escort being donated to Martin and his wife.
“He was very grateful,” McMillan said of Martin’s reaction. “It’s just good to feel like you made a difference with somebody, and you appreciate what you have even more.”
Also in attendance on April 24 were: Tinley Park trustees William Brennan and Michael Mueller; Pat Carr; volunteer committee cofounders Tim Janecyk, Nancy O’Connor and Colleen Sullivan; and volunteer Rachelle Wise.
After Martin moved the car into his garage and everyone left, he said he and his wife went inside and it all started to sink in.
“No one has ever given us anything or done anything that’s amounted to much,” he said. “We’ve always had to earn everything we’ve got.”
For Glotz, the day reminded him of when former Tinley Park officials would do similar charitable efforts throughout the town. Glotz said he has tried to emulate them.
“To me, this is the reason why [I] got into politics – to help people,” he said.
Luck turning around
Nearly a week later, Martin was finally able to put the pedal to the metal – metaphorically speaking, anyway.
After setting up his car insurance, he took the new wheels out for a spin on Wednesday, April 29, to do some errands.
“I’m just trying to get used to it,” said Martin, laughing. “My biggest problem was with the radio. I didn’t have any problems with the car, just the radio.”
On one of those errands — a trip to Jewel-Osco — Martin said he heard a beeping sound when he tried turning the car off.
He had left the lights on and needed to turn them off.
But – with a little luck – learning the ins and outs of his new car will be set to cruise control soon enough.
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