Fairfax, Va.-based Virginia Tire & Auto is funding Wheels for Work, a new charitable program that offers pro bono automotive repair services to low income families in need of reliable transportation to get to and from their jobs.
Not having a dependable vehicle is often a major hurdle for many in keeping a job and in turn supporting their family, Virginia Tire said, and is the second biggest challenge behind childcare for many people entering the workforce.
Mike Holmes, vice president of Virginia Tire, said, “We are very pleased that we have found a way to use our expertise in auto repair to directly help those in our community who are struggling to keep and maintain their jobs. Even in an affluent area like Northern Virginia, there are many people who risk losing their jobs and their source of income for their family because they do not have reliable transportation. Those are the people that we are trying to help.”
Initially, Virginia Tire teamed up with the Shelter House, an organization in Fairfax County that provides temporary housing and supportive services to homeless families, to help identify candidates for Wheels for Work.
In addition, any resident of Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William Counties is eligible to apply for Wheels for Work.