Pat Lobb Toyota of McKinney
Car Donation Helps Man Who Walked 12 Miles to Work
July/August 2017
New Wheels
Patrick Edmond signs the paperwork to take ownership of a 2014 Corolla donated by Pat Lobb Toyota.
Patrick Edmond signs the paperwork to take ownership of a 2014 Corolla donated by Pat Lobb Toyota.
Few of us can imagine walking 12 miles to work. But Patrick Edmond didn’t have a choice.
The 52-year-old didn’t own a car and was making the trek five days a week to his job at a Braum’s restaurant in McKinney, Texas.
Edmond had been working at another location in Plano, near his apartment, but the store was temporarily closing for renovations. Not wanting to risk losing his job, Edmond chose to hoof it up to three hours a day.
His luck changed in March when a McKinney police officer gave him a ride and posted the inspiring man’s story on Facebook.
The story went viral and the community stepped in.
A GoFundMe page collected more than $3,600, far exceeding its $500 goal. There was talk of using the money for a down payment on a car, but Pat Lobb, of Pat Lobb Toyota of McKinney, had a better idea.
“Patrick needed some help and walking 12 miles to work says a lot about his character,” Lobb says. “Sometimes in life you have to reach out and help those who need a hand up. I wanted to do the right thing to help him long term.”
Lobb donated a 2014 Toyota Certified Used Corolla, including tax, title and license, through a local nonprofit called 3e. Edmond could use the GoFundMe money for other expenses.
When Edmond picked up the keys to his new wheels, he told Lobb that he walked by his dealership every day with “God by his side.”
“He did that for months, even during a cold snap in January where it was 9 degrees outside,” Lobb says.
Jim Smith, executive director of 3e, helped Edmond renew his driver’s license before the donation and managed media interest in his story.
“Patrick is a regular hardworking guy with a great heart,” says Smith. “The car Pat Lobb picked out was perfect for him. He’s been so blessed by it.”
Edmond says he won’t forget Lobb’s kindness.
“There’s not many people like Pat Lobb in the world,” he says. “That was outstanding generosity from the heart. I can’t even describe it.”
The 52-year-old didn’t own a car and was making the trek five days a week to his job at a Braum’s restaurant in McKinney, Texas.
Edmond had been working at another location in Plano, near his apartment, but the store was temporarily closing for renovations. Not wanting to risk losing his job, Edmond chose to hoof it up to three hours a day.
His luck changed in March when a McKinney police officer gave him a ride and posted the inspiring man’s story on Facebook.
Character Counts
Dealer Principal Pat Lobb was so impressed with Patrick Edmond’s work ethic that he was moved to help him get back on his feet.
A GoFundMe page collected more than $3,600, far exceeding its $500 goal. There was talk of using the money for a down payment on a car, but Pat Lobb, of Pat Lobb Toyota of McKinney, had a better idea.
“Patrick needed some help and walking 12 miles to work says a lot about his character,” Lobb says. “Sometimes in life you have to reach out and help those who need a hand up. I wanted to do the right thing to help him long term.”
Lobb donated a 2014 Toyota Certified Used Corolla, including tax, title and license, through a local nonprofit called 3e. Edmond could use the GoFundMe money for other expenses.
When Edmond picked up the keys to his new wheels, he told Lobb that he walked by his dealership every day with “God by his side.”
“He did that for months, even during a cold snap in January where it was 9 degrees outside,” Lobb says.
Jim Smith, executive director of 3e, helped Edmond renew his driver’s license before the donation and managed media interest in his story.
“Patrick is a regular hardworking guy with a great heart,” says Smith. “The car Pat Lobb picked out was perfect for him. He’s been so blessed by it.”
Edmond says he won’t forget Lobb’s kindness.
“There’s not many people like Pat Lobb in the world,” he says. “That was outstanding generosity from the heart. I can’t even describe it.”
