Saturday, May 11, 2024
Since 1982, Christian Brothers Automotive (CBA) has sought to change the way customers think about auto service by providing honest, knowledgeable, and genuine car repairs and service — seeking to change the stigma of the automotive industry.
But now, the faith-based business is doing its part to give back to members of each community at various Christian Brothers Automotive locations, with its new “cup car” campaign, including right here in Granbury.
Through a partnership with the Hub Garage — a nonprofit organization dedicated to repairing vehicles for single moms at no cost — various CBA locations will host a “cup car” event to raise awareness and donations for the Hub Garage.
Made entirely out of colorful plastic cups resembling a life-size Volkswagen Beetle, the “cup car” is designed to remind everyone how using spare change to purchase a simple cup of coffee could be better well spent as a single donation to help single moms in need.
The car was created to generate awareness for the millions of single moms nationwide who need reliable transportation to provide for themselves and their families. While the “cup car” isn’t a working car, organization officials hope this endeavor will keep single moms in the driver’s seat of their lives.
"It is strictly about helping single moms,” explained Mike Loter, owner of CBA in Granbury. “Its goal is to help single moms have reliable transportation, because if they don't, they can't keep their job and they aren’t able to provide for their kids and family.”
Since May, the Hub Garage organization has hosted its “cup car” campaign in seven states and is set to be at the CBA Granbury location from Friday, Oct. 20 through Monday, Oct. 23, in conjunction with the Granbury location’s National Service Day on Saturday, Oct. 21.
Every year in October on National Service Day, CBA Granbury partners with local churches or non-profit organizations to offer a free oil change to single moms and widows in need.
"We'll do 40 to 50 free oil changes on that Saturday,” Loter said. “Our team works for free that day serving single moms and widows with an oil change and often other needed repairs or service. Local suppliers of oil and filters also donate to the cause. We truly know that when we bless others, we receive a blessing as well.”
CBA Granbury opened in 2012 as a “full-service auto repair shop,” and has been assisting drivers of most makes and models of vehicles ever since.
"We just believe in treating people like we would want to be treated,” Loter said. “We don't take advantage of them, we don't sell them things that aren’t needed, and we just advise them of what we found on their car. We try to address the problem they come in with, but we also make them aware of anything else that could possibly be an issue or leave them stranded on the road.”
The company tagline for CBA is “Love your neighbor as yourself,” — and that’s exactly what Loter and his team in Granbury aim to do; both with customer service and the “cup car” campaign.
“Our ultimate goal is to be a light in our communities,” Loter said. “We just happen to do it with auto repair. Since we opened in Granbury, we have been blessed to be a part of this community and want to give back to help others when needs arise.”
Hub Garage officials are encouraging everyone to follow the “cup car’s” journey around the country and take a picture with the colorful car to raise awareness and donations for the organization. All proceeds from the campaign will go directly toward car repairs for single moms in need.
“We're not just fixing cars; we're trying to break generational poverty," Hub Garage Managing Director Jonathan Carr said, in the organization’s news release. "There are over 10 million single moms in the United States, and nearly 30 percent of those moms are living below the poverty line. If these moms don't have functioning transportation, it affects their ability to get to work and get their kids to school. It affects the trajectory of their lives."
To donate to the Hub Garage and see or take a picture with the “cup car,” please stop by Christian Brothers Automotive Granbury at 3809 East Hwy 377 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning Friday, Oct. 21 through Monday, Oct. 23.
For more information about the Hub Garage, visit thehubgarage.org online. For more information about CBA Granbury, visit cbac.com/granbury online.
ashley@hcnews.com | 817-573-1243
