D.R.A.G.G. automotive after school program gives refurbished car away to local family

OXNARD, Calif. - Oxnard Police and automotive industry mentors help teach teens how to work on cars in the D.R.A.G.G. (Drag Racing Against Gangs and Graffiti) after school program.

The program gave its fourth car away on Saturday during the 12th annual Santa to the Sea Toy Drive hosted by the Nyeland Promise.

Police said teens worked with Commercial Auto Body in Oxnard to repair a 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander donated by Oxnard Mitsubishi. They also made it look new.

More than 60 deserving families were nominated and teens had the difficult task of choosing the winner.

They handed over the keys to Juan Cruz who went to get his surprised family.

The car will fit the whole family from Nyeland Acres.

Cruz has a teenage son with Down Syndrome and a wife who is being treated for breast cancer.

Cruz said the car will help them go to appointments in Los Angeles.

To learn more about the program, visit draggteam.org.