Getting to work is harder than it used to be. People who own a car are four times more likely to be employed, yet owning a car is increasingly out of reach for many low-income workers. Used car prices have increased 50% over the past three years. Public transportation is not a viable option for most people in Columbia due to limited bus routes and infrequency of pickups. In this issue, learn how Love Columbia is helping our neighbors secure and maintain cars to get to work.

Howdy Matheny, volunteers as Love Columbia Car Coaching Coordinator. He recently taught a car maintenance class to a group of single moms, some of whom he had previously rescued after a car breakdown. Participants are already clamoring for more training. They were most interested in: learning how and why to check oil regularly, and how to jack up a car safely. Howdy and his students are all too well aware that an engine malfunction or flat tire can lead to job and even housing loss. Howdy takes calls to help with a car very seriously. Howdy shared, “Just changing someone's Battery is a deal changer. Going a step further and trying to find out what killed their battery is the main help.”

Many community partners make it possible for Love Columbia to promote reliable transportation. Tim and Loretta Ralph, owners of Tim’s Automotive, regularly partner with us to provide urgent repairs and work hard alongside us to get people back on the road as quickly and inexpensively as possible. Loretta shared, “My big thing is giving back to the community: single moms, single dads and elderly people. God blessed us so we can give back to others.”

In addition to Tim’s Automotive, multiple other community partners continue to gone above and beyond to give us a timely response for needs, flexibility and help us get people back on the road as inexpensively as possible. Here are some of the businesses that have generously partnered with us this year:

• Tim's Automotive
• Columbia License Office North
• Autozone
• Chuck's Auto Salvage
• Tiger Towing
• K&M Salvage
• Sorrell's Auto Salvage
• Doug Perry Towing 
• McKnight Tire

Extra Mile is the name of our 16-week financial coaching program, but it is literally what Love Columbia staff and volunteers do every week to help people get where they need to go.

Kelli Van Doren, our Coaching Programs Manager learned on a Friday afternoon that a single mother with a middle school son was facing eviction on Monday. This hard-working mother had a broken-down car and no place to go. With the sheriff’s department literally scheduled to set their things on the curb, Kelli jumped into action. She had the car towed to a repair shop, moved the family’s belongings into storage and got them settled into a hotel. Then, for the next two weeks, until a school bus could be arranged, she provided transportation to and from school for the middle schooler. She said he was quiet on most trips, but once told her that he liked school because his science teacher had praised him and told him he had promise. 

We knew we had to keep that young man in school. Columbia Public Schools reports that transiency is the leading cause of poor academic performance.

We have also seen through the years that loss of transportation is often the first domino to fall to lead to homelessness. With the help of community partners, we are getting our single mom’s car fixed. We are also beginning the arduous task of getting the family rehoused.

Sometimes it feels like the entire trajectory of a family’s life depends on reliable transportation. So far in 2023, we have been privileged to repair over 100 cars for low-income workers, help 18 people purchase a car through our Car Savings Matching Fund and no interest $1,000 loans, and give 10 donated cars to low income, working parents. We have provided over 300 fuel vouchers and countless rides. Broad community support has made this possible. We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the many who have sacrificially and joyfully gone the extra mile for their neighbors.

• A father of three had been taking rideshare services to get to work and was often unable to make it to his kids sporting practices and events. A soccer coach recognized and responded to the need by providing a donated car through Love Columbia.

• “While I was volunteering, I transported children to school for two weeks when the mother was unable to. The hardest part was when the second grader asked, “Lady, is there just one Santa Claus or is there one for each neighborhood?” Being with those children, although for such a brief time, was a delightful experience!”

• “My client is a single woman who lives in her vehicle. When a rock shattered her back window, Love Columbia covered the cost of a new window so she could sleep safely in her vehicle at night until we could get her housed.”

• “A client experiencing homelessness received a gas voucher so he could get to an interview, and he secured the job.”

• Three single moms received critical car repairs. They expressed that they could now: get to work and pay back rent to avoid eviction, stop living in fear about job loss, attend son’s football games.

Save the Date: Volunteer Connection Lunch will be held on October 19 at 12:00PM at the Love Columbia Center. All past, present and interested volunteers welcome!

Free Pre-Ownership Class will be on Tuesday October 10 from 5:30-6:30PM, for questions or to register today please contact, sherryw@lovecolumbia.org.