BELFAST, Maine (WABI) - The Autism Society of Maine was awarded an over $20,000 check from the Mid Coast Business Development Group Friday at Belfast’s BJ’s Automotive.

Comprised of multiple local NAPA Auto Parts and Truck Care Centers, along with Coastal Auto Parts, the group has been holding the Autos for Autism fundraiser every April for about six years.

“Collectively, as a group, we’ve been having discussions on what ways we can give back to our community and this was one thing that stuck out in a lot of our minds,” describes BJ’s co-owner Meg Richards. “All of us have either family members and within our own family, or know of somebody who is living with autism and it’s something that hits very close to home for all of us.”

Organizers say they blew their initial fundraising goal of

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