“My name’s Albert. I’m 72. I work the counter at Sam’s Auto Repair on Chestnut Street. $11 an hour, writing up repair orders, calling customers when their cars are ready. I don’t fix the cars myself anymore. Bad knees. Just handle the paperwork.
But I see people’s faces when we tell them the cost.
Like the nurse who came in last Tuesday. Transmission problem. $1,800 to fix. She just stood there, staring at the estimate. “I can’t,“ she whispered. “I work night shifts. No car means no job. But I don’t have $1,800”
I looked at Sam, the owner. He shook his head. “Sorry ma’am. That’s the cost.”
She left crying.
That night, I stayed late. Called Sam at home. “What if we did the transmission for $600? I’ll cover the rest. Take it from my paycheck. Monthly installments.”
Long pause. “Albert, that’s your money.”
“So? She needs to work. I need to help.”
He sighed. “You’re gonna go broke doing this.”
“Maybe. But she’ll have a car.”
We called her back. Sam told her we “found a used transmission, much cheaper” She cried again. Different tears.
Started doing it regularly. Covering repair costs people couldn’t afford. Mechanics would give me the real price. I’d tell customers a lower one. Pay the difference over months from my paycheck.
Sam caught on. Pulled me aside. “Albert, you’ve paid for eight repairs this year. That’s $3,000”
“People need their cars to survive”
He studied me. Then, “I’ll match you. Whatever you cover, I’ll cover half. We do this together3”
Word got out somehow. Customers started leaving money. “For whoever can’t afford repairs” We started a jar. “Sam’s Second Chance Fund.” When someone’s desperate, we use it.
That nurse? She brings us coffee every week. And she put $50 in the jar last month. “For the next person,” she said.
I’m 72. I write repair orders at a small garage.
But I’ve learned this, cars aren’t just transportation. They’re how people get to work. Get kids to school. Get to the hospital. Survive.
And nobody should lose everything because their car broke down.
So find your repair. Your thing you can fix for someone. Then fix it. Quietly.
Because sometimes, keeping someone’s car running keeps their whole life running.”