Help replace car destroyed in tornado
The evening of April 19, Brent White was busy working as a shift leader at Marcos Pizza Restaurant at Federal and Harrison in Shawnee taking orders and making deliveries.
As the night grew later and severe weather approached the area, that would all change quickly.
“We heard the tornado warnings. We were still getting orders done and making deliveries,” White said. “And then when we knew it was on the ground, my corporate office called and told me to get our employees out of there.
“I sent two people home to their parents to seek shelter and one other employee and myself went to the walk-in refrigerator. We didn’t leave it until we got the all clear. We spent 3045 minutes inside that,” White added, noting how very cold it was for him and his employee.
Prior to the storm, when White had returned from his last delivery, he had parked his 2014 Toyota Camry in the parking lot near a huge tree he said.
White, who was 19 the night the tornado struck destroying many homes and businesses and causing extensive damage to others and leaving the Shawnee community without power, said, “Our building itself didn’t get terribly damaged. But unfortunately my car did,” he added.
White, the son of Chris and Rachel White, just turned 20 years old last week.
He explained, “The tree fell on it. It shattered the back windshield, the inside was torn up and sustained water damage and it heavily damaged the body part of the car.”
White said the insurance company totaled it. His deductible was $1,900, though, and he didn’t have the money for it.
“I wasn’t in the best of moods,” he admitted. “I couldn’t get to work, we were just beginning to do the review for final exams at Seminole State College, so it was critical for me to be there,” he emphasized.
He was having to rely on friends to get to work and college.
However, White had no idea what a group of his co-workers were doing at the time. They had come up with an idea of how to help him meet his deductible.
“A couple of coworkers had started a separate group chat over the Internet,” he said. “They were able to raise $1,000 in about 24 hours. I was speechless,” White acknowledged.
“I was able to meet my deductible, get it paid and when I received the money from the claim, paid off the Camry. And I was able to purchase a 2012 Chevy Malibu,” he said.
White said he took possession of the Malibu on Monday of this week. He went four weeks without a car.
White commented, “I really appreciate what the Marcos family of co-workers did for me,” he continued.
“I’m very appreciative of that little car right now. I’m excited about getting that vehicle.”
White admitted he was excited about getting the vehicle, saying, “Life is much better these days. No longer I am dependent on friends for rides.”
He just graduated from Seminole State College and now that he has his Associate Degree is thinking seriously about moving to the Oklahoma City area where he plans to attend the University of Central Oklahoma and earn a Bachelor’s degree in Business.