Dr. Caleb Bunting is a local chiropractor and owner of Serenoa Vitality and Wellness on State Road 16 in St. Johns County. He recently donated his first car to Habitat St. Johns.
The 2006 Nissan Sentra was his grandparents’ car. Bunting bought it from his grandparents in 2011 when he was in high school named the car “Tom” after his grandfather. He has a lot of happy memories about the car, including the rides back and forth from college in Tampa, to visit his parents and grandparents in Tennessee and carpooling with friends everywhere and anywhere.
When he bought the car, it had about 50,000 miles, and when he donated it at the end of 2023, it had more than 200,000 miles on it.
The car had a lot of sentimental value for Bunting. He recounted that his grandfather was a paraplegic, and the car had some modifications that enabled his grandpa, Tom, to drive it. Those modifications were undone when Bunting took ownership, but the evidence of those modifications was still evident. He said the car always reminded him of his grandparents.
When the car started showing its age, one of Bunting’s friends suggested he donate the car to Habitat St. Johns through the Cars for Homes program, and that is what he did. He felt donating the car would help benefit someone trying to get into a home after its many years of loyal service to him.
Others can do as Bunting did and help local, hardworking families and individuals, including teachers, CNAs, hospital workers, first responders, restaurant and hospitality staff, small business workers, seniors and others get into a new home of their own through Habitat for Humanity’s Cars for Homes program. All the donor has to do is go to habitatstjohns.org/cars4homes or call 877-277-4344, provide the necessary information, have the vehicle title and set up a pickup date. Volunteers will pick up the car even if it doesn’t run.
The funds Habitat St. Johns receives from the sale of the car help with building homes and buying land to help those working hard every day to become homeowners.
Homeownership offers stability, security and the opportunity for generational wealth that isn’t possible as a renter. It also gives the homeowners a space of their own. Many prospective homeowners are paying high rents, living with relatives or have one or more roommates to make ends meet.
