Justin Korva, a 20-year-old Texas fast food worker, had been walking 3 miles to work every day when Andy Mitchell spotted him in his work uniform on a 95-degree day.
Mitchell offered to give Korva a lift, during which he heard Korva’s story about walking 3 miles every day to Taco Casa, where he worked. Korva said that he hoped to eventually save up enough money to buy a car for himself, and after Mitchell dropped Korva off, he posted the story to Facebook.
“To all the people that say they want to work but can’t find a job or don’t have a vehicle all I can say is you don’t want it bad enough,” Mitchell wrote.
Samee Dowlatshahi, owner of Samee’s Pizza Getti Italian Bistro & Lounge in Rockwell, saw the post and offered to put out a donation box at his pizza joint. Less than 48 hours later, he and Mitchell had raised $5,500.
Danny Rawls, general sales manager at Toyota of Rockwall, then saw the story and decided to help.
“I presented it to my general manager and said, ‘Hey, let’s help the kid. It seems like a great story,'” Rawls told CBS News. His manager agreed, and they reduced the price of an available 2004 Toyota Camry enough that not only could Dowlatshahi and Mitchell afford to get the car but they could also cover the insurance for a year, along with two years of oil changes and a $500 gas card.
Then, on Friday, they drove the car to Taco Casa and asked Korva to come outside.
“Justin, you can’t imagine all the people who wanted to help you,” Mitchell said. “So, instead of walking to work, buddy, you’re driving this car from now on.”
A disbelieving and emotional Korva then gave each man a hug.
“We just want you to know, seriously, this community, nothing we love better than to have someone who works hard,” Dowlatshahi said. “We take a lot of pride in that. It’s so hot out here, I can’t believe you walk even one mile in this heat.”
“He’s a very humble young man and accepted it with stride,” Rawls said. “There couldn’t have been more of a deserving individual, for sure.”
