March 2009 – Keicia and Kenneth Jones, Pontiac, MI
Keicia and Kenneth have been struggling for a while. With the economy in the tank, both were laid off, Kenneth’s unemployment was used up and Keicia’s will be gone soon. The young couple knew there was a better life out there, but they didn’t know how they could get there.
A series of “clunkers” for cars had them on edge everyday. “Will the car start this morning?”, “Will our daughter make it to school?”, “Will I make it to work?” were the questions that that haunted them. The better life they wanted for themselves and their daughter seemed out of reach. Then one day, someone suggested they visit Volunteers of America Michigan’s Cars Helping People VOA Auto Sales lot.
They easily found the lot on Walton Boulevard and pulled into the driveway. The anxiety that they normally felt when they had purchased the previous clunkers was nagging at them. With only $2,000 to spend, what kind of car could they really get?
The sales guy, Tom, met them as they walked onto the lot. Tom smiled and said, “Afternoon, folks!, Can I help you find something today?” Keicia and Kenneth looked at each other and decided to lay it all out there. Kenneth explained that he and Keicia didn’t have much to spend. They just needed a good car that would be reliable for them – one that could get their daughter to and from school, one that could get the two of them back and forth from their college classes and one that would start up. Tom listened and he understood. He saw good people like the Joneses every day. Good people, down on their luck that had been taken advantage of before at other “Buy Here, Pay Here” car lots who just needed honest answers and reliable transportation. Tom smiled again, because he knew he could help.
Tom steered them toward a vehicle in their price range. He had good word from the lead mechanic this particular car was in good running order and it would be reliable. Tom got the two set up to do a test drive. Upon their return, the smiles on their faces told him everything he needed to know. The Joneses had found their car.
Six months later, Kenneth tells us the car hasn’t had one major problem. Getting their daughter to school is easier than ever and both he and Keicia are getting close to finishing their degrees and looking for work in the high-tech computer growth industry. The best thing of all, Kenneth says; “I had such a great experience, that I sent someone else there and they got a great car, and I know that person sent someone else there for a car too!” He also stated “Wow, if there could be more cars available through Volunteers of America, I know a lot more people who could finally be able to afford one!”