Inside Seven 55 Garage, an old F-150 pickup is about to become much more than a restoration and modification project.
What began as the S.A.V.E.S. Coalition’s Cars & Coffee initiative is taking on a new name: Operation Drive Forward. The initiative, a program of Thrive Allen County, is focused on veteran suicide prevention and awareness and is hosted by Patty Built Customs and Seven 55 Garage.
Operation Drive Forward gives local veterans a place to gather, work with their hands and build relationships with others who share a common bond through military service.
For Steve Bowman, owner of Seven 55 Garage and a member of the S.A.V.E.S. Coalition, opening his workshop was about creating a space where veterans could simply come together.
Rather than centering the program around formal meetings or presentations, Operation Drive Forward gives participants something tangible to work toward together. Veterans can spend time in the garage, share stories over coffee, work side by side, and build connections naturally while restoring a vehicle from the ground up.
At the center of the project is a vintage Ford F-150 pickup donated by Michael Stockebrand of Patty Built Customs. Veterans participating in Operation Drive Forward will take part in the complete restoration and modification of the pickup, giving the group a long-term project that combines craftsmanship and a shared sense of purpose.
Once the restoration and modification are complete, the S.A.V.E.S. Coalition plans to take the truck to car shows and community events, using it as a conversation starter to raise awareness about veteran suicide and the importance of supporting those who have served. Eventually, the truck will be auctioned, with proceeds helping purchase another vehicle and begin the process again.
The vision is for Operation Drive Forward to continue for years, with each restoration creating another opportunity for veterans to connect and another vehicle for spreading awareness.
That connection is especially important when looking at the challenges facing veterans across the country. As of 2022, suicide was the second-leading cause of death among veterans under the age of 45, and the veteran suicide rate increased 48.9% between 2001 and 2022.
Programs addressing suicide prevention don’t always have to begin in a meeting room. Sometimes they can begin over a cup of coffee, under the hood of an old F-150, surrounded by people who understand where you have been.
Operation Drive Forward is open to anyone who has served or is currently serving in the military.All veterans are encouraged to attend, whether they want to help work on the truck or simply spend time with people who share the experience of service.
Operation Drive Forward is about more than restoring a truck. It’s about creating a place where veterans can find camaraderie and community while reminding them they don’t have to navigate life after service alone.
