How a Mechanic Shop Made a Lasting Impact on This Family

Most of the time, life-changing support at Together for Good happens through host families and parent advocates—and for Jolene, that was true—but for this grandma who is raising her busy three-year-old grandson, support also came through a local mechanic shop. 

Christian Brothers Automotive in Woodway, Texas wanted to impact the community and tangibly support families in crisis. They chose to help through their specialty—by providing a car for a family in need—highlighting a core belief here at Together for Good. Everyone can do something. 

Jolene called Together for Good because everything in her life seemed to be falling apart. It was late fall 2025; Jolene had just lost her housing and been laid off from her job. Despair threatened to creep in after nights spent sleeping in her car alongside her young grandson, Mason. 

Mason was just three years old, busy and curious about life. Being homeless was everything Jolene did not want for him. 

As Jolene searched for housing options, she remembered hearing about Together for Good. Volunteers who would host Mason so Jolene could look for work? Jolene was skeptical when she first heard about TFG and the possibility of hostings. Who are these people who would just open their homes to a stranger?

However, desperation pushed out skepticism, and soon enough, Jolene made the call.

Shortly after getting connected with TFG, as she was looking for work, Jolene realized her driver’s license had expired. Through the TFG network, a partner church heard about her dilemma and organized volunteers to help her take her test and regain her license. During that time, a host family was identified for Mason. 

Jolene passed her test with flying colors and almost immediately afterward secured a new job and a place for her and Mason to live. 

The hostings—and more importantly, the host family—began to change everything. On top of the host family, wrap-around support from TFG volunteers ushered in additional help and encouragement for Jolene.

By Christmas time, life was stabilizing for Jolene and Mason. 

For a moment, Jolene worried that stability would mean that Together for Good would step back from supporting her and Mason. That’s when Karla knocked on Jolene’s door.

Karla was a TFG volunteer who was an approved parent advocate who decided to start supporting families by delivering Christmas baskets through her church. The annual tradition allows volunteers from Together for Good partner churches the chance to show Christ’s love through a Christmas activity basket that blesses families during the holiday season.

Jolene and Mason had been the family matched with Karla. While the assignment was randomly done on TFG’s end, God was moving to bring Jolene and Karla together.

Jolene welcomed Karla into her apartment, and the two women began talking, instantly connecting on a personal level. Karla had a son who was almost exactly the same age as Mason and could easily relate to the joys and hardships of raising a busy three-year-old. 

When Karla finally said goodbye to Jolene, she was barely to her car before she called TFG and asked if she could become Jolene’s advocate.

Jennifer, Jolene’s TFG case manager, shared that the friendship between Karla and Jolene has been “a complete game changer.”

Receiving some respite hostings for Mason has supported Jolene physically, allowing her time and space to rest, while having a parent advocate has supported Jolene emotionally; she knows that Karla is there for her. Jolene is no longer doing this alone. 

The support that Together for Good provided was the foundation for Jolene to begin looking toward the future with hope. Jolene was promoted at work and her friendship with Karla began to flourish.

But then this summer, life suddenly took a turn out of nowhere. 

Mason’s daycare decided they could no longer have him attend, and as a result, Jolene was laid off from work. Then, Jolene’s car was repossessed on a technicality. 

In what felt like an instant, Jolene's life fell into chaos; the stability she had built over the last several months was vanishing. 

Not far from where Jolene lived, Christian Brothers Automotive was looking for a way to impact their community. As a business, they knew they wanted to make a tangible difference, so they decided to donate a car.

When TFG case manager Jennifer heard that Christian Brothers Automotive had a car that they wanted to donate to a participant family, she knew the car was meant for Jolene. 

Jennifer shared, “We immediately thought of Jolene because she was so motivated.” Jennifer felt this car would show Jolene that she is seen and supported by the Together for Good community and, more importantly, that she is seen and loved by God. 

When Jolene was told that she was being given a car in the midst of such a stressful time, she was blown away. Here was a working vehicle with no monthly payments, simply given to her. It seemed too good to be true.

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Jolene receiving her car!

The car has opened up so many doors for Jolene. She has been able to enroll Mason in school and get there reliably each day. She now has a new job that relies on a working vehicle to complete deliveries. Jolene could only accept the job because of her new vehicle. 

Once again, the Together for Good community has rallied around Jolene and Mason to provide support and ultimately ensure Jolene can be there for her grandson.

When Christian Brothers Automotive felt called to donate a vehicle, they didn't know Jolene’s story. They didn’t know that for almost a year a host family, a partner church, and a parent advocate had been pouring into her and her grandson’s lives. They only knew that God was prompting them to do something for a family in crisis. Because of their obedience, when Jolene lists the individuals who have made it possible for her to continue parenting Mason, Christian Brothers Automotive will be a key name on her list. 

Everyone can do something to support vulnerable families. No single person can meet every need, but each of us can meet one. So, to paraphrase Romans 12: if you are called to host, host; if you are called to bring a Christmas basket, bring it; if you are called to be a parent advocate, do so excellently; if you are called to give through your business, do so cheerfully.

Together, you will build up the body of Christ to love and support children and families in need.

*Names have been changed to protect privacy.