Waterdown, Ontario — When the initial COVID-19 lockdown saw cashflows dry up for bodyshops all across the country, many opted to close the shutters and wait out the storm—Waterdown Collision, on the other hand, took to the frontlines of pandemic to support frontline workers as well as continuing on their tradition of support for cystic fibrosis research.
“Rather than shut the doors and say, ‘well, this is it.’, we rallied together as a team to find a way to give back to the community who continued to support us through COVID,” said Nadia Mamone, head of business development and insurance relations at Waterdown Collision.
Almost as much community advocates as they are a bodyshop, the team at Waterdown Collision has been busy since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic finding ways to support their surrounding area of Flamborough in southern Ontario.
“Since COVID has started, we have done a coat drive, a food drive, a toy drive, a car wash, grocery deliveries for frontline workers and seniors, complimentary car washes for frontline workers,” said Patty DiFelice, who works in client relations and is married to owner, Max DiFelice.
The cause most near and dear to the family, however, is the search for the cure to cystic fibrosis—a disease Max and Patty’s son Dante was born with.
“Our initiative for the spring is for cystic fibrosis, specifically for Dante’s Journey to the Cure. Dante is Max’s son and he suffers from cystic fibrosis. We’ve been doing annual car washes for a number of years, but due to restrictions from COVID, we had to change our approach and this seems to be a really good fit,” said Mamone.
“If the client makes a $50 donation to Dante’s Journey for the Cure through the Cystic Fibrosis Canada website, we are offering a winter tire swap, a mechanical inspection and a car wash.”
There’s no denying the difference being made by Waterdown Collision and their charitable efforts as DiFelice noted that “To date, we have probably raised more than $300,000 for Cystic Fibrosis Canada with our fundraising.”
“We actually won an award through the Flamborough Chamber of Commerce for community service by a business,” Mamone added.
Waterdown Collision also will be partnering with a local charity for a food drive later this year.
“The next quarter that we’re doing is actually going to be a food drive with the Eva Rothwell Foundation in Hamilton. It’s about supporting different areas of the community where we see the need and trying to find a way to give back,” said Mamone.
