Man who has walked to work for years gifted car
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IDAHO FALLS — For Christon Gray, walking to two jobs in chilly weather was just a part of his everyday routine.
A number of local business owners saw Gray’s on-foot commutes and wanted to make his travel time a lot shorter.
So they decided to get together and give him a used Toyota Avalon.
“We just figured out a way where we could all pool together and put some money in and help him with a ride,” New Image Car Wash owner Trent Birth says.
Owners from Branded Auto in Rigby rallied at least 20 businesses to sponsor the car for Gray. The car was brought into New Image Auto, where Gray and other workers were assigned to wash it. When Gray went to give the keys back, people from the community were waiting in the lobby to surprise him.
“It was all a surprise to me,” Gray says. “It’s a great opportunity to have some transportation.”
Gray has been working at Papa Tom’s Pizza on Woodruff, and at New Image Car Wash on First Street. Trent and Shelby Birch with New Image says he’s been an employee for three years, and he’s always walked to work.
“He’s just been a really good employee: never asks for much, just does what he needs to do,” Trent Birch says.
Shelby Birch says all of the customers love Gray. Tim Mueller, his boss from Papa Tom’s, says he deserves the gift.
“The community just has such a great love for him, and he is just an amazing soul — so giving, always volunteering in the community like the soup kitchen and making sure everybody is OK,” Birch says.
Business owners also gave Gray some spending money for the holidays. On top of that, an Idaho Falls Maverik location presented Gray with a $100 gas card.
“It’s Thanksgiving. It’s the time of year that we need to share what we have with others. Nothing better to do than help this guy out,” local Allstate agency owner Scott Bowen says.