Five cars with red bows line the side of Community Options.
“I got a new car! I am so super excited,” says Marie Hetzel.
The non-profit organization’s job program “Work for Wheels” helps employed people get to work, a luxury so many of us take for granted. While many were bursting with excitement, and tears of joy, Mark Johnstone had different emotions.
He says he’s, “Just nervous, emotional. I’m a real hard person, I don’t show my emotions in that. I’ve overcome a lot. I lost my father six months ago in that. He was a big thing in my life.”
Johnstone has never had a car to call his own. It’s a big step forward into turning his life around.
“I’ll be saving about a hundred dollars a week in cab fares and local transportation, city busses and that. I don’t have to depend on other people’s vehicles now after I got my license back.”
As for Marie Hetzel, she’s never had a reliable car. Now she’s driving away in a fixed-up Ford Focus.
“I don’t have the fear of my transmission going out. I don’t have the fear of my car just not starting one day. I know for a fact I’m going to get to work in the morning. I’m going to get my son to his day care. So, it’s going to be great.”
Every car given away has been donated to the Wheels for Work program from community members and businesses. They are inspected and repaired before given to someone who needs it.
For more information, visit http://www.ccoinc.net/ccowebsite_003.htm
