Good Samaritan helps Girl Scouts
Girl Scout Troop 00688 from Nebraska with the Ford Expedition that broke down and brought them into contact with Blake Vignolo (below center) of SimplyEuro, who helped them get back to their camping trip this summer.
Girl Scout Troop 00688 began their journey from Kearney, Nebraska, to Colorado Springs early in the morning on August 6. With a trailer packed full of camping gear, they knew they were headed for adventure; they just did not know what kind.
The miles passed with silly songs, games and chatter. With all the fun, somewhere around Denver, they missed their exit. Shortly after rerouting, in five-lane traffic, the vehicle began losing power and the check engine light started blinking.
Scout leader Kami Loeffelholz carefully eased across traffic and exited onto Castle Pines Parkway looking for the nearest mechanic.
Fortunately, Kami found SimplyEuro but was concerned because her vehicle was a Ford Expedition. Kami entered the shop thinking they could perhaps give directions to another mechanic.
Blake Vignolo, senior general manager of SimplyEuro, put the Expedition on the scanner. He chatted with the girl scouts while updating the Ford portion of the system. After seeing the scanner results, Blake made some phone calls and located the part they needed.
While the repairs were made, the troop was welcomed into Duke’s Steakhouse for a meal.
Blake came through and the Expedition was fixed just in time for the troop to get to the campsite with an hour of daylight left to set up camp. Blake not only saved the day, he followed up later to make sure the troop arrived safely to their destination.
“It was meant to be,” Blake said. Ashleigh Civitello, co-founder and president of Alloy Automotive, parent company of SimplyEuro, added, “Taking care of people is exactly why we do what we do. It has never been about fixing cars, it’s about getting people where they need to go.”
The girl scouts finished the trip without any more vehicle troubles.
Kami summed up the journey: “Girl Scouts is about so much more than badges, camping and trips. It is about preparing girls for life. Sometimes the lessons we remember most aren’t the ones we planned. Sometimes, when you miss your exit, you end up exactly where you need to be.”
By Rachel Poe; photos courtesy of Kami Loeffelholz
