MINOT – People can think of many creative ways to help those in need, and First Baptist Church in Minot helped a need this past weekend relating to transportation issues.
Matt Cummings, a deacon at FBC and organizer of the "Car Care Clinic," said about twice a year, some men from the church, some of which are very skilled mechanics, get together in the church parking lot to spend a Saturday helping less fortunate women, especially single moms, with their car issues, free of charge.
“Mostly ladies who don’t have a guy at home who can help take care of their cars,” said Cummings.
Cummings said one of the ways the church can get in contact with these women is through the 10 elementary school counselors in the Minot Public School system.
“We reach out to them, and we get our names of who can benefit most from this, because they know their populations better than anybody else,” said Cummings. “It’s especially important in Minot that these families have an operating car, because Minot has no school bus service. If that kid’s going to get to school in the morning, he’s got to have a dependable family vehicle.”
For many of these kids, Cummings said getting them to school not only gives them an education, but it provides them with the hot breakfast and lunch that many of them receive at school.
“It’s super important that someone comes alongside these ladies and helps them with their car stuff,” said Cummings.
The church provides the labor for the vehicle work, but Cummings said some of the local businesses help supply the auto parts, oil, and other parts the cars may need.
This past Saturday FBC repaired about 40 cars, which is average for the event, with about 20 volunteers. The church typically calls the families to find out what the needs are for their specific car.
“We pre-sign for a lot of them, but we had a number of walk-ins too,” said Cummings.
FBC hosts the Car Care Clinic one time in the spring before summer driving and once in the fall before the winter snow.
“We don’t have all the fancy equipment that a full car repair shop would have here,” said Cummings. “If it’s just brakes, or if it’s wipers, headlights, lightbulbs, we can do that.”
When someone comes with a car issue, FBC can also refer them to many other programs that the church provides.
More information on FBC programs can be found on its website.
