Jason and Mandy have supported the Mission since 2012 as faithful volunteers and donors. Most recently, they donated a vehicle, hoping to make a lasting impact on someone’s journey toward stability.
What first drew you to the Mission’s work?
We really wanted to start being faithful to our commitment to the Lord and to tithe. Praying about it one day, I asked God where He wants me to put that money, and it just became clear; we’ve got to get involved with the Rescue Mission. And so we started donating money. It wasn’t long after that somebody said, “Do you want to come serve a meal with us?” And we just kind of kept going from there. It grew into this really cool relationship to where we realize we are a part of something big.
What inspired you to donate your vehicle to the Mission instead of selling or trading it in?
When my wife and I were younger, we had a very rocky start to our marriage. I wasn’t stepping up to do my part. During that time, I had our car and she was living in a shelter for a couple of weeks. It was there that they gave her a donated car. That was a huge gesture; it got her through a really hard time. Since then, I’ve had daydreams that every time we replace a car, instead of auctioning it off, we’d donate it to the Mission. Well, here we are. God has given us enough that we can buy a car without debt, so we donated our old car.
What would you say to someone who is considering donating a vehicle?
The value you get out of this treasure in heaven is worth more than you’re going to get out of a dealership. The impact it can have on people’s lives is a big deal. If you’ve got a car that’s sitting there collecting dust, you can either get a discount on a new car or enrich somebody’s life. One is just infinitely more valuable.
“I think we take for granted how much freedom and independence regular transportation gives us.”
This post is part of September’s Changing Lives Newsletter. This month, we’re sharing how reliable transportation is creating freedom, opportunity, and confidence in: The Road to Stability
