LUMBERTON — Two people have started their engines in the race for a free car from United Way of Robeson County’s annual Fair Share Giver Car Giveaway

The first of 12 drawings for the giveaway was held Tuesday at Terry Chapin Nissan in Lumberton.

The first finalists are Evelyn Cruz, who works at the Robeson County Department of Social Services, and Taquelle Mitchell, who works at BB&T.

“The car dealers come together to present this car for someone to win who is a fair-share giver to United Way of Robeson County,” said Sandra Oliver, executive director for United Way of Robeson County. “That’s what United Way is about — bringing everybody together, caring and giving back to our community. We all have to do our part.”

The Fair Share Giver Car Giveaway is open to anyone who gives United Way of Robeson County an hour’s pay each month for 12 months. Representatives from participating car dealerships will pick two names every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. for the next 12 weeks. Currently, there are more than 500 names to choose from, Oliver said.

By the end of the 12 weeks, 24 hopefuls, including Cruz and Mitchell, will have their names in the running. During a final drawing on Jan. 21 another six people will be selected to enter the giveaway before one winner is sent home with a new car.

“I hope I picked a winner,” said Ashley Lewis, sales manager at Terry Chapin Nissan. “It’s for a good cause.”

The next drawing will be at Peterson Toyota-Scion-Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge on Tuesday.

This winner will drive home either a Ford Fiesta from Fair Bluff Ford; a Chevrolet Spark from Lumberton Chevrolet-Buick-GMC; a Honda Fit from Lumberton Honda; a Kia Soul from Lumberton Kia Mazda; a Toyota Yaris from Peterson Toyota-Scion-Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge; or a Nissan Versa from Terry Chapin Nissan.

It is not too late to become a fair-share giver and have a chance at a car. For information on how to do so, call 910-739-4249 or visit UnitedWayRobeson.org.

Gabrielle Isaac | The Robesonian Sandra Oliver, executive director for United Way of Robeson County, left, draws names for the organization’s annual car giveaway, which began on Tuesday. Oliver is joined by Beth Terranova, with Communities in Schools; Margaret Crites, with the Rape Crisis Center; Ron Ross, with the Boys and Girls Club; Amy Cox, with Gaurdian Ad Litem; Audrey Hester, with Southeastern Hospice, Darlene Jacobs, with Robeson County’s Church and Community Center; Latricia Freeman, with United Way; and Ashley Lewis, sales manager at Terry Chapin Nissan.
https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_IMG_27311.jpgGabrielle Isaac | The Robesonian Sandra Oliver, executive director for United Way of Robeson County, left, draws names for the organization’s annual car giveaway, which began on Tuesday. Oliver is joined by Beth Terranova, with Communities in Schools; Margaret Crites, with the Rape Crisis Center; Ron Ross, with the Boys and Girls Club; Amy Cox, with Gaurdian Ad Litem; Audrey Hester, with Southeastern Hospice, Darlene Jacobs, with Robeson County’s Church and Community Center; Latricia Freeman, with United Way; and Ashley Lewis, sales manager at Terry Chapin Nissan.

By Gabrielle Isaac

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Gabrielle can be reached at 910-816-1989 or on Twitter @news_gabbie.