If God were to have an actual garage, it would have its home in Montgomery County. God’s Garage, located on East Davis, in Conroe, is an organization with its mission: Empowering Women for Success. The simple goal is to provide single mothers, widows, and the wives of deployed military service members, the power of mobility; the simple act of getting around town to go to the grocery store, to the doctor, to work, or most importantly, to church. The Garage is a Christ-centered 501(c)(3) non-profit ministry that since its inception in 2016, has provided nearly 800 cars to deserving ladies from all backgrounds and religions. They are not only a car distribution charity, but also provide training to ladies in life skills, budgeting, meal planning, single-parenting, and job interviewing. They also repair their clients’ vehicles when needed.
On Wednesday, June 25th, a lady Veteran from Montgomery, Debra Hunt, who had been without a vehicle since earlier this year, received a late model Ford Impala from God’s Garage Executive Director Justin Coggins, surrounded by her church friends and God’s Garage staff and volunteers. Hunt is very involved with her activities at April Sound Church near the entrance to the community off of SH 105. Not having a car severely hampered her church mission, and thanks to God’s Garage, she now has transportation to be able to help those in need, giving her the freedom to be independent in her work, but not having to rely on others for other needs for transportation, such as going to the grocery store, the doctor, or even Sunday services.
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Veteran Debra Hunt, receives her car from God’s Garage, a late model Ford Impala |
God’s Garage is really on a Mission from God. They receive near four-thousand applications each year from ladies desperate for transportation, but average between 55-60 car gifts to ladies per year. Prior to moving into the organization’s new 10,000 sq. ft. facility that encompasses the entire organization, the operations were scattered about the 12 acre campus on Conroe’s east side. The shop has six air conditioned bays, they also have a large classroom for presentations and classes, as well as offices for the staff and volunteers.
The Garage receives many cars from Montgomery and surrounding counties, and they vary in age difference, make, and model. Each car is different in reference to its ability to operate properly. Some run fine and require very little work to fully rehabilitate and gift to a deserving lady, while others need some TLC on their way back to peak performance. Coggins has a master mechanic and shop foreman on staff, along with other mechanics who are retired and volunteer to The Garage their time to keep a purpose about their lives in their retired years. Other volunteers are younger who are learning the craft, and Coogins is eyeing a training program for the future. During the summer, college students will come in and volunteer in differing capacities to make the operation run that much smoother.
“The need is great, and we need more vehicles and volunteers to fulfill our mission,” said Coggins. “We have a unique opportunity to help women, and to be able to give the cars to our clients is all the better.”
The process to receive a car begins with a visit to Godsgarage.org, where clients fill out an application. From that point the opportunity goes through the system, to reviewing the application and vetting each applicant to best determine need. Those chosen will be invited to seminars hosted by God’s Garage staff once a month, then the clients will be put on a list to receive a car. And as vehicles become available, the cars will be assigned to a client to be gifted when available.
Hunt’s status as a Veteran of the US Army, and her personal mission to assist others in need in her church community, helped her case. She was very humbled by the gift as she was handed the keys surrounded by her church friends and volunteers from God’s Garage. Just touching the car was a personal victory for her, and she could not express in words what it truly meant to her to be mobile again.
“I would like to thank God’s Garage for their help in getting me on the road again,” said Ms Hunt. “It gives me a chance to be of service to my April Sound Church family.”
God’s Garage appreciates all monetary donations, but parts donations are equally appreciated. They have a good relationship with vendors, but are looking for vendors to donate as well. Funds are desperately needed to keep an operation the size of God’s Garage on mission, and without delay in getting cars to women in need.
For more information and to donate: godsgarage.org
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