Four Jefferson City area women can show off their "new" vehicles this holiday weekend, thanks to Nichols Career Center automotive technology students and the group "Working Wheels for Working Families."
Getting a 2006 Chevrolet Uplander means "the world to me," Amber Stotler said. "I have five kids, so this helps me get them to and from activities for school, to go to the park, the library and things in general.
"We can now attend church functions - not just church. So, this is just absolutely wonderful."
Dawn Anthony, who received a 1997 Ford Contour, agreed.
"It's reliable transportation for me and my children," Anthony said. "It keeps me from having to catch rides and spend a lot of unnecessary money - and it's a reliable vehicle, and gas efficient.
"So, I truly am blessed by them helping me out, and my family."
Brad Shimmens, a member of the Working Wheels for Working Families board of directors, noted during a short ceremony, "Each of these women works more than 30 hours a week, (while also) raising a family and running a household."
Julie Beck and her husband founded the organization two years ago and, since January 2014, have awarded a total of nine vehicles.
"We have a pretty rigorous application process," Beck explained. "There's a 14-page application, that each applicant must complete in its entirety.
"Also, part of that application includes completing an entire household budget - because we want to make sure they can actually afford the car once they get it, for the maintenance and the upkeep.
"We call this a hand-up, not a hand-out."
There's a $25 application fee, and successful applicants must pay at least $400 toward their vehicle.
"If they are not able to do that, we will match them with a local lender that is willing to give them a low-interest loan," Beck said. "Once they pay that off, it helps a lot of these applicants establish credit that they've never had before."
Applicants must be working at least 30 hours a week, or have a verifiable job offer.
And applicants "have to have no DWIs, no DUIs, they have to be drug free, and they can't have any major criminal felonies," Beck said. "There's a lot of hoops they have to jump through."
The goal, she said, is, "We want to see them succeed. We want to keep working families working."
Joe Hires, the Nichols Career Center's automotive technology instructor, helps the Working Wheels group get their vehicles ready.
"It's a real-world experience for the kids," Hires explained, noting his students are high school juniors and seniors. "We change the oil, change the plugs.
"Check all the lights. Check the wipers, horns, brakes - everything just like a motor vehicle inspection."
The work often can include special jobs, like repairing brakes or intake gaskets or valve cover gaskets.
"This is real cars going out on the street, and they get to see real fixes and then the cars leave here," Hires added.
"These are great people. This is a good organization - and I'm glad I can help them."
Heather Davis received a 2000 Hyundai Sonata, to replace a car that had been in a wreck.
"We weren't able to take our daughter to school, or for either one of us to get to work," Davis said. "So, this has allowed us to get back and forth to work and continue to get her to school" and to night-time activities.
When she was car-less, Davis said, "I inconvenienced my mother a lot. She lives 30 miles out, but she did her best to help us get back and forth."
Others talked about using Jefftran - which only operates during the day, Monday-Friday - relying on friends or walking.
Lauren Bateman works with HALO, and represented an un-named 17-year-old, single mom who remained in class instead of attending Friday's ceremony to stand by her 1997 Toyota Camry.
"For her, this is a huge step toward independence," Bateman said. "She is now able to get where she needs to go on her own, without having to rely on me or the public transit system or anybody else to get her where she needs to go - so, back and forth to school and to work."
And to get places with her 8-month-old baby.
Information about applying for a car or for donating one can be found on the Working Wheels for Working Families website, www.ww4wf.com.