Gainesville car dealer gives out keys to 'Christmas' cars

GAINESVILLE - A Gainesville car dealership Friday helped a Christmas wish come true for two families who needed cars.

Four days before Christmas is a great time to win a car you need as two Northeast Georgia families discovered at Carriage Nissan.
General Manager Jim Russum handed over the keys to the winners in an area Make a Wish contest.

"We put it together and now its all coming to a closure," Russum said. "With them receiving their automobiles, I hope everything works well for them all."

Cathy Hollabaugh from Cleveland said she and her Army National Guard husband Adam plan to make good use of the 1998 Ford Taurus they won, especially since his Winder unit is about to be sent to the Middle East.

"It will come in handy while he's still here and while he's gone," she said. I'm overwhelmed, it's really hard when you have a large family and you only have one vehicle."

Bob Powers from Cumming said his other car was beyond repair and was glad to get the keys to his 1999 Oldsmobile.

His son-in-law Zach Abernathy entered the Make a Wish contest and got the car for Powers.

"They told me he was getting the car and it was a prayer answered," Abernathy said.