Service Spotlight: The Lift Garage

I’ll never get tired of talking about the ways The Smile Project has brought so many wonderful people into my life. A perfect example is the friendship we’ve formed with Matt’s Kindness Ripples On. Each month they recognize individuals and organizations who are making the world a kinder place. You’ll see many of their honorees turn up on The Smile Project blog as we love the community we’ve formed through lifting each other up.

With that said, I’m thrilled to introduce Cathy Heying, Executive Director and Founder of The Lift Garage in Minneapolis. The Lift Garage is a nonprofit auto repair shop that provides low cost car repair to low income Minnesotans. 

Liz: What’s the driving force behind what you do? 

Cathy: I founded The Lift because it is so clear how vital a vehicle is to ensuring safety and stability for everyone. If you can’t get to work or school, or can’t pick up your kids after soccer practice, other things start falling apart. A safe, reliable vehicle can be a step forward out of a difficult situation as much as a broken car can be the one thing that makes many other things fall apart. We believe that if we can help keep a vehicle running it can prevent a lot of other problems.

Liz: What does service mean to you?

Cathy: I’m a social worker and church minister by training and went and got an automative tech degree to start this work. By virtue of our shared humanity we have the immense privilege and responsibility to care for one another. This is why we build societies: because at our best we are so much better together. No one has to do everything but everyone must do something in accordance with our means and capacity.

Liz: How can people learn more? 

Cathy: We can be found at www.theliftgarage.org. You can also donate at that website and follow on Facebook and Instagram (@theliftgarage).

Photo credit: Azul Photography