By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY – Cindy Ingram never expected when she made a contribution to the Rowan County United Way campaign her name would be drawn to be in the running for a car.
She pledged to this year’s campaign and is now one of 12 finalists in the car giveaway.
Volunteers also drew Janet Ingram of F&M Bank and Marcus Litaker of Freightliner for the chance to win a car.
Four Salisbury automotive dealers – Team Chevrolet, Gerry Wood Auto Group, Ben Mynatt Nissan and Cloninger Ford/Toyota – team up to award the new car to a contributor.
Throughout the United Way campaign, names have been chosen. One person at the end of the campaign will win a car.
Ingram found out her name had been drawn from someone in the personnel department at Freightliner, where she works.
“I didn’t give to expect anything in return,” Ingram said.
She recalled a moment in her life when she and her husband found themselves unemployed from Freightliner at the same time.
The United Way, she said, helped the couple by making a house payment.
The Rockwell resident said she could use a car.
“I’m driving my husband’s old Honda. The Honda has been giving me trouble and he (my husband) keeps patching it up,” Ingram said.
She drives 40 to 60 miles each time to work. The family has another car that Ingram calls a gas guzzler.
South Rowan native Janet Karriker of F&M Bank said she received a phone call from the United Way telling her she was in the running for a new car, too.
“I was going, ‘Holy cow,’ ” Karriker said.
Just like Ingram, Karriker said she never expected her name would be drawn.
“All you have to do is look around and see someone less fortunate than I am,” she said.
She typically doesn’t win competitions like this, Karriker said, so she hasn’t thought what she would do if she were to win.
She has for years donated to United Way through her job and encourages others to give to the United Way campaign.
“They should thank God they are as fortunate as they are and look around to see the people who actually need help and give from the heart,” Karriker said.
Rowan native Marcus Litaker was so shocked that his name was drawn he was momentarily confused when he heard the news.
It didn’t sink in until Litaker returned to work and co-workers asked him how it felt to be in the running for a car.
Litaker is thankful. He has a 2004 Kia Optima with a lot of miles on it, he said.
Litaker is a regular contributor to the United Way campaign.
“It’s nice to help somebody that you don’t know, but you know somebody needs help,” he said.
Litaker said he would encourage others to give because they are taking part in helping others.
Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253.