More than one thousand brave men and women with our armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan received some extra holiday gifts thanks to the generosity of the public expressed at area Jiffy Lube service centers.

Twenty locations in the Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, N.M., and Flagstaff, Ariz., areas, served as collection sites for home entertainment products in the three-week period from November 28 through December 19. A total of 1040 used CD's, DVD's and VHS tapes were donated by drivers and local radio stations to Jiffy Lube. They were picked up by the Kirtland Air Force Base and the National Guard and sent overseas in time for Christmas Day.

Keith Mortensen, president of Lubricar, Inc., which owns all of the service centers that participated, talked up the program on several area radio stations. Special posters were put up at locations and Jiffy Lube radio Fleets were tagged with news of the collection drive as well.

Another several hundred products that were dropped off by the end of the year were also sent to our armed forces in the Middle East in January.

The 15 service centers in the Albuquerque/Santa Fe region owned by Lubricar, Inc., provide regular vehicle maintenance year-round. Yet, there are two special days when they go well beyond normal work to be genuine Service Heroes for the community. For the last 11 years, the Carrie Tingley Children's Hospital in Albuquerque, which specializes in caring for children with muscular degenerative diseases, has benefited from Lube-A-Thons at the area Jiffy Lube service centers. On a special Saturday in October, Lubricar will donate $5 to the organization for every Jiffy Lube Signature Service^® oil change. Customers who have their vehicles serviced will also receive special prizes of thanks. Approximately $60 thousand has been raised for the organization in this manner.

The company is also a major sponsor of the annual Albuquerque Zoo "Run for the Zoo" fund-raising event every year.

Jiffy Lube^® will support local youths by conducting the second annual "Change Your Oil - Change A Life" benefit for the YMCA on Saturday, April 24. Throughout the day, Jiffy Lube^® will donate $5 for every Jiffy Lube Signature Service^® oil change conducted at all fifteen locations in Albuquerque and Santa Fe to the YMCA Scholarshipping program.

The YMCA Scholarship Program provides funds for children to attend the facility who would otherwise not be able to. Jiffy Lube^® is proud to join the YMCA in helping to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities!