COLUMBIA, S.C. — A local business teamed up with Family Promise of the Midlands to offer three families in need with newly refurbished cars so they can count on safe and reliable transportation.
“Family Promise of the Midlands has absolutely changed our life," recipient Cayce Brainard-Kelly said while holding back tears and reflecting on her family's past experience without a vehicle.
“When you have to carry groceries, get to school functions and try to maintain a normal life," Brainard-Kelly said. "It's very hard to do that with kids.”
Homeless for three years while in and out of various shelters, the Kelly family was one of three families to receive a vehicle from Midas Total Car Care in Lexington, which teamed up with the non-profit to give back to the community.
“We came across a Family Promise, which brought us [the family] back together. We were able to be housed together, they helped us get a place, and we were just approved for our Section 8 vouchers," Brainard-Kelly said. "They helped us do our deposit and things like that, so through them, we were able to get into this program.” Brainard-Kelly said.
Gus Herlong is the COO of Palmetto Garage Works, which operates the Midas Auto Service franchise. He spearheaded the idea to create a way to give families the gift of transportation before the holidays.
“One phrase that we use locally is that cars don't fix themselves and neither do communities," Herlong said.
“For people that don't have the gift of transpiration, this is about not being able to pick up groceries or not being able to run down the street for medicine," Herlong said. "Smallest things that we just take for granted, these individuals were not previously able to do that.”
“We've remained faithful and patient, and people say that a lot, but that's what we've been able to hold onto,” Brainard-Kelly said.
Two more families were gifted cars, as well.
Herlong says he's hoping to do this again next year.