Miller dealerships work at giving back

Early this morning an army of employees from the five Albuquerque-area Larry H. Miller auto dealerships began scurrying across the grounds and through the offices of the Children’s Grief Center in a quiet residential section of the North Valley.

Some unloaded scores of new books related to dealing with grief and trauma, and lined them up on the reorganized library shelves.

Others added bark to a grief garden where children plant flowers in memory of loved ones who have died.

A crew attacked the administrative offices with paint brushes to deliver a much-needed fresh coat.

A room for children who need to let off steam was equipped with padded walls and a punching bag to provide and outlet for pent-up anger and frustration.

And several men took power tools in hand, climbed ladders and installed new backboards on the basketball court.

“This means a lot to us because almost all the programs are run by volunteers but we just don’t have the time to do these things around here,” said Kelly GeilsEckenroth, a program director for the center.

The center, which generally has about 175 people it’s helping — about 100 of those children — was the recipient of the local Miller dealerships’ participation in an annual Day of Service, honoring the late company founder on his birthday. About 50 employees were involved locally and overall more than 2,000 employees in seven states were out and about in their respective communities.

“It’s an opportunity to give back to the community,” said Delbert Chavez, a parts manager at Southwest Hyundai. “We’re giving back to the communities that give so much to us. It’s an honor to do it and we love doing it.”

While it’s the organizations that benefit from the largesse of the dealerships’ employees, they get quite a bit out of it as well.

“It feels great to give back,” said Chris Torres, a service manager at West Hyundai. “It’s something I look forward to doing every year, helping others in the community.”

Although the work was relatively simple and not too time-consuming, it was a gesture that was absolutely appreciated.

“We’re really excited and happy,” GeilsEckenroth said.

GLEN ROSALES/FOR THE JOURNAL Kenny Valles, left, Chris Torres, center, and Delbert Chavez, all of whom work at one of Larry H. Miller’s Albuquerque auto dealerships, put up a basketball backboard Wednesday at the Children’s Grief Center in the North Valley as part a companywide...