Help Change A Life: Local Business Giving Away A Car

DUNN, N.C. — A local business is once again asking the community to help change someone’s life by nominating a deserving individual to receive a free vehicle.

Johnson’s Transmission and Auto Service has announced the return of Cam’s Cars, an annual program that surprises a resident with a vehicle at no cost.

The business, located on N.C. Highway 55 along the Johnston-Sampson county line, is now accepting written nominations from anyone who knows someone facing transportation challenges or who has made a positive impact in the lives of others.

The recipient will be selected through the nomination process and surprised with the vehicle during a special presentation scheduled for 6 p.m. on Sept. 18. Organizers ask those submitting nominations to keep the surprise a secret if their nominee is chosen.

Nominations must be received by Aug. 28.

Community members are encouraged to explain how their nominee has helped others, served the community, or made a meaningful difference in the lives of those around them. While organizers say the recipient should be someone deserving of reliable transportation, the focus is on recognizing individuals whose kindness, generosity, and service have positively impacted others.

Johnson’s Transmission and Auto Service was founded 33 years ago by Jerry Johnson. Giving back to the community has long been a priority for Johnson, and the Cam’s Cars program has become one of the company’s signature ways of helping others.

According to Marketing Manager Don Melcher, the annual vehicle giveaway began about 10 years ago with a simple mission.

“The goal is to find someone in the community each year — an individual or family in need — who, despite their own challenges, does more for the community than they do for themselves,” Melcher said.

The business promotes the nomination campaign through local churches, civic organizations, community groups, and the media in hopes of reaching deserving nominees throughout the area.

Anyone may submit a nomination. After the Aug. 28 deadline, all nominations are reviewed by three independent judges, who narrow the field before organizers select the final recipient from three or four finalists.

To preserve the surprise, the person submitting the winning nomination is responsible for finding a reason to bring the recipient to Johnson’s Transmission on the evening of the giveaway without revealing what is about to happen.

The recipient is presented with a quality used vehicle that has been thoroughly inspected and serviced by the shop. The new owner is only responsible for providing vehicle registration and insurance.

“We’ve never had anyone come back with any problems,” Melcher said of the vehicles the business has awarded through the program.

Nominations may be submitted by mail to:

Johnson’s Transmission & Auto Service
1648 N.C. Highway 55
Dunn, NC 28334

They may also be emailed to katie.johnsonstransmission@gmail.com. Organizers ask that the subject line include “2026 Cam’s Cars Nomination” and that the nominator include a reliable phone number.

For additional information, contact Don or Katie at 910-892-0961.

For Johnson and his team, the annual giveaway is about more than providing transportation. It is an opportunity to recognize quiet acts of kindness and reward people who spend their lives helping others, often while facing hardships of their own.