Wamic Family Riding high on Wheels of Hope

Mallory Morrow, at center holding flowers, was given a 2014 Ford Focus on Thursday through Wheels of Hope. She had been without a vehicle for two years. Her mother, Tia Morrow, standing at her right, nominated her for the car. Mallory lives in Wamic and now, with the vehicle, hopes to move to The Dalles where she can easily reach groceries and other needed supplies as well as childcare. Ray Schultens Motors and Bicoastal Media employees were there today to present her with the vehicle. She had no clue she was going to receive it, she said.

Mallory Morrow of Wamic thought it a bit strange when her mom called on Thursday and said she and her two young boys should come to The Dalles and spend the night and shop for Thanksgiving.

The 27-year-old had no idea. 

Her mom, Tia Morrow, is driven, she said, noting she usually gets what she wants. 

Mallory Morrow at the second she learned she was being given a Ford Focus.

So, Tia threw a little errand in the middle of the shopping today, Thursday, Nov. 12.

“She said she needed to pick up some car parts” at Ray Schultens Motors, Mallory said.

When they showed up at Schultens at 3:10 p.m. on Thursday, a group made up of Schultens Employees and  Bicoastal Media was waiting for her with flowers and a 2014 Ford Focus SE.

Mallory in her Ford Focus.

“This is Crazy,” Mallory said after she was given the keys to the vehicle in the Wheels of Hope giveaway sponsored by 22 local businesses.

Tia nominated her daughter for the vehicle, noting she was raising her boys, Marco, 4, and Makhail, 2, in Wamic - 45 miles from The Dalles.

For two years, Mallory has been borrowing cars from friends and family to do shopping or asking others to pick up groceries or prescriptions for her. 

In her nomination form, Tia said Mallory was falling short on hope and praying for a miracle.

She got one on Thursday. 

“We think it is very important to give back to the community,” said Sales Manager Austin Woolsey with Ray Schultens Motors. “There are a lot of families out there that could use a hand. And if we can contribute to improving somebody’s life, we need to do that. It’s nice to give a vehicle away to someone in the local community.”

Mallory said the independence of the vehicle was huge - noting she could now come to The Dalles where she would look for housing and find childcare. She was born and raised in The Dalles and graduated high school in 2012.

“This is a huge blessing, yeah completely,” she said.

Randy Haines from the KCFM 93.5 morning show interviews Mallory Morrow after she was given the vehicle.

The radio stations of Bicoastal Media, Gills Point S Tire and Auto, Ray Schultens Motors, Washington Gorge Action Program and Columbia Veterinary Hospital teamed up to help the Morrow family.  

Bicoastal Sales Manager Bill Nielsen said 24 nominations were made for this year’s Wheels of Hope. 

A panel of judges made up of representatives from Bicoastal, sponsors, and representatives of human service agencies selected Mallory.

This is the sixth year of Wheels of Hope. And it is six years of helping Gorge families. 

Wheels of Hope is also supported by Maupin’s Stoves and Spas, The Dalles Fruit Company, A Kidz Dental Zone, Crestline Construction, NW Natural, Gorge Granite Works, One Community Health, Jones Trucking and Implement, Mid Columbia Mobile Propane, Casa El Mirador, Downey Sleep Center, Google, Hood River Cherry Company, Holly Gove EXP Realty, The Dalles Holiday Inn Express, Bustos & Hernandez Construction and Infinite Graphix.

Jared Langford of State Farm Insurance in Hood River wrote Mallory her policy as well, and then dropped off a $100 cash gift for Mallory, Marco and Makhail.