New Car Helps Mom with Work, School

posted 2/6/18 -- Olivia Patton’s life changed thanks to LCCAA’s By Car Program.

“Trying to accomplish a degree and work part time is hard but it’s even harder without transportation,” she said.

By Car helps income-eligible clients to purchase a used vehicle while learning savings strategies and vehicle care. Eligible clients save their earned income toward a vehicle purchase. The By Car program matches their savings 2 to 1 up to a total of $3,999. Participants take financial literacy courses as well as learning the costs of owning a vehicle and its proper maintenance.

Olivia took the financial literacy course in October. A month later, she had reached her savings goal and found a car. While waiting for her paperwork to be processed, she found out the car had been in an accident.

“You told us to ask for a Car Fax and not to fall in love with the car until we bought it,” she told Client Services Specialist Bob McDonald. “So I walked away from the car like you told us to do.”

By the end of December, Olivia had found and purchased a reliable car to get her and her daughter around town.

“The car program has opened the door for me to achieve my goals that I have set for myself to succeed in life,” she said. “I am very grateful and appreciative for the help this program has given me.”