Cars Changing Lives Delivers a Vehicle and Hope to Local Family

For Kasey Thomas, the keys handed to her outside Auto Care Clinic represented much more than a car.

They represented a fresh start, stability for her children, and a new opportunity to move forward.

Thomas recently received a donated vehicle through a partnership between Cars Changing Lives and the Hike Kidz Foundation following this year’s Dueling Disco fundraiser.

Harmony Hile said the donation began with a supporter of the Hike Kidz Foundation who had been following the organization online and wanted her special vehicle to go to the right person.

“She wanted to make sure that it went to a mom with kids that needed a car,” Hile said.

Sandy Long said Thomas had been on the organization’s waiting list while working to rebuild her life and complete a training program that will help her pursue a new career.

“A mom with some young kids working hard to get her life back in order,” Long said. “What a great reward for her today.”

The giveaway marked car number 86 for Cars Changing Lives. The Auto Care Clinic prepared the vehicle for a state inspection, an oil change, and any needed repairs before Thomas received the keys.

Hugh Henry hands the keys to Kasey Thomas after she received a donated vehicle through Cars Changing Lives and the Hike Kidz Foundation.

Hugh Henry, who participated in the Dueling Disco fundraiser, said the event gave the community a chance to have fun while supporting a meaningful cause.

“If my coming out and giving everybody a chance to laugh at me a little bit helped them earn some money, then it was well worth doing,” Henry said.

Cars Changing Lives co-founder Bill Long said the organization is already preparing vehicle number 87, a Toyota Scion donated by Ryan Rutherford in memory of his late Uncle Tim.

“He was actually a disco dance champion back in the ’70s,” Rutherford said. “So this is how he was able to help us out today and donate the car, and it’ll find a new home very soon.”

Bill Long said the organization hopes to reach a major milestone by the end of the year. “My goal is Christmas Eve, car number 100 with a big red bow on it,” Long said.

The organization accepts donated vehicles in almost any condition. Cars that cannot be repaired are often recycled, with proceeds helping fund repairs on other donated vehicles.

“If you’ve got a good car that doesn’t need a whole lot, we love those kinds of cars,” Long said.

As Thomas drove away smiling and waving, organizers said moments like that are exactly why the program exists.

For Harmony Hike, the vehicle represented more than transportation. It represented encouragement and a reminder that the community is behind families trying to move forward.

“I think she realized there are people wanting her to succeed,” Hike said. “That’s huge.”