Volunteers from Pocatello church providing car repairs for free
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POCATELLO — At the end of the month, people who have car troubles and are tight on cash can potentially get their vehicle repaired for free.
For the last fifteen years, a growing group of volunteers from Grace Lutheran Church have run a program called Christian Auto Repair Service (C.A.R.S.) where they make minor vehicle repairs for people in need. They hold this event typically on the fourth Saturday of every month in the parking lot of their church building at 1350 Baldy Avenue in Pocatello. The next date people can bring their vehicles for free repairs is Jan. 25 between 9 a.m. and noon.
“We do a lot of repairs and maintenance for folks,” said Chuck Buerstatte, Grace Lutheran’s director of operations and the volunteer coordinator of the program. “If they can afford the parts, they’ll supply the parts, and we’ll supply the labor.”
C.A.R.S. formed after members of Grace Lutheran recognized the need in the community for people to afford car repairs, Buerstatte said.
“Every single month, there is a huge need out there, and our volunteers have been really consistent on that because I do think they see the value and the benefit within the community,” Buerstatte said.
Buerstatte said for most people, their ability to live their life and go about their business is dependent on a vehicle.
“Everything is going well, (then) they lose access to a vehicle. Now they don’t have easy means to get to and from work. If they can’t regularly show up for work, then what’s the likelihood of their job continuing? Then, with the loss of a job, you can see how quickly things can spiral,” Buerstatte said.
When the group started, two people and their sons regularly volunteered for C.A.R.S.; now, they have around a dozen consistently volunteering people. There’s a wide range of experience levels among the volunteers.
“Some volunteers have been mechanics. We have some that have worked on cars pretty extensively and we have others that are learning,” Buerstatte said.
People who go to C.A.R.S. seeking help don’t have to provide proof of economic need.
“There’s a huge economic range of individuals we’ve worked with, some on disability, some that live in their cars, and then we have a lot of people that are getting by, and a $100 repair to them would be a big financial strain,” Buerstatte said.
People who would like to bring their vehicle in but aren’t sure if the volunteers can help with its repair can call (208) 237-0467 to ask and see. Buerstatte is happy to see this program spreading through word of mouth and would like to help other communities form similar groups.
“We’d love to visit with people if they were interested in starting a (similar) program in their local community,” Buerstatte said.