2025 United Way car giveaway: 2nd key is a winner

ASHEBORO — Doug Loflin will have a hard time finding a Christmas tree big enough to fit his wife’s gift. Nevertheless, he’s excited to pull it up into their driveway.

He won United Way of Randolph County’s annual car giveaway, an end-of-year event that honors people who contribute to the organization.

The giveaway took place inside Asheboro AutoMall showroom on Thursday, Dec. 18. Ten people who donated at least $100 in the last year drew car keys. The one whose key fit in the door of the 2025 Nissan Versa S took it home.

“It was very shocking because I was number two to go,” Loflin said. “When it opened, I kind of felt bad a little bit, because I wanted a longer show than that. But it means a lot.”

The father of three says his older children are at driving age. He will give the Versa to his wife, a librarian in Montgomery County, and they can hand down her current car to the kids.

United Way Executive Director Samantha Barker told the Hub, “As we move into the new year and celebrate our 70th year serving Randolph County in 2026, our priorities remain clear: Supporting the programs that help families stay housed, fed, healthy, financially stable, and connected to resources through partners like 211.

Loflin does energy efficiency audits for Randolph Electric Membership Corporation and is not the first of their employees to win this giveaway. Last year’s winner, Jeff Harris, was a longtime employee and also said the new vehicle would go to his wife.

Loflin said it speaks to their commitment to serving the community. He began working for Randolph Electric three years ago, and he says the leadership encourages everyone to support United Way programs as a way of giving back to all its members.

“We get to see a lot of Randolph County,” he said, “Get to see the different things in the community, how things operate. And so that’s how you start hearing stuff about United Way, the impact it makes for the other people.”

Loflin said donating is part of living out his faith. “To honor [Jesus’] legacy is to give to those that are needy,” he said. “And so, United Way does a really good way at that. There’s all kinds of different programs, too, in Randolph County.”

This is the AutoMall’s 19th car giveaway for United Way, according to General Manager AJ Rydzewski.

“It’s very meaningful,” Rydzewski said. “We are a smalltown family of a dealership, and we’ve been in business for 37 years. So it is, it means a lot because we are part of this town.”

Baker called community involvement the “heartbeat” of their work, critical to expanding their services and meet rising needs.

She said, “This year, we are especially focused on increasing awareness and advocacy around our ALICE population, which represents the households who are working hard but still struggling to afford basics like housing, childcare and transportation.”

United Way hopes to reach $600,000 for his annual campaign this year. They received about $530,000 in pledges so far.

“The outpouring of generosity we have seen is a powerful reminder that Randolph County shows up for one another,” Baker said.