Car fixed, donated to Ionia family

IONIA, Mich. (WOOD) - Jessica Rule, her husband Joe and their kids Samantha and Sawyer have had a rough holiday season. Recently, Sawyer was diagnosed with leukemia.

Before the holiday season began, S&P Auto Body in Ionia bought a damaged Pontiac Grand Prix from auction and fixed it up with the help of other area businesses. They put the word out: if you need a good car, write them a letter.

Rick Poole and his staff at S&P, 470 Price Street, received about 50 letters. They narrowed it down to three, and posted them on Facebook. Whoever got the most votes would get the car.

Of the three finalists, two of them decided that though they needed a car, the Rules family needed the car more  -- and they withdrew from consideration.

That meant all 2700 votes went to the Rule family.

Monday afternoon, Poole picked up the family and presented them with their new car. They will use it to get Sawyer to Grand Rapids for his medical treatments.