BELFAST — Autos for Autism is a fundraiser held throughout the month of April, by the Mid-Coast Business Development Group and Coastal Auto Parts NAPA Stores. The businesses are trying to raise awareness of Autism by posting fliers, sharing information, and seeking donations from customers. All proceeds from the donations will go to the Maine Access to Inclusive Education Resources.
The Mid-Coast Business Development Group is a mixture of independently owned NAPA Auto Care Centers and NAPA Truck Care Centers located between Bangor, Warren, and Ellsworth. The group meets quarterly to share ideas on improving their respected businesses as well as ways to give back to their respective communities. The group’s members include BJ’s Automotive Diagnostic Center (Belfast), K&B Automotive (Ellsworth), Copeland’s Garage (Warren), Frost’s Garage (Hampden), Reardon’s Automotive and Diagnostics (Bangor), Eastern Tire and Auto Service (Rockland, Rockport), Harmon’s Tire and Service Center (Ellsworth), Merchant’s Automotive (Ellsworth), Coastal Car Care (Ellsworth), and Coastal Autoworks (Warren).
Coastal Auto Parts owns 29 NAPA Auto Part Stores throughout Maine from Caribou to Gray and Machias to Bethel. The company is based out of Ellsworth.
In the last two years Autos for Autism has raised over $17,000 for the Maine Access to Inclusive Education Resources. MAIER is a collaboration between the University of Maine College of Education and Human Development and the Maine Department of Education Office of Special Services, dedicated to improving outcomes for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder through leadership, training, professional development, technical assistance, collaborative consultation, technology and research. The Auto for Autism donations are primarily used to support MAIER’s Family partnership activities and resources.