Safe Cars.
Secure Lives.
Your gift has a profound impact on the lives of our customers and makes the road safer for all of us.
We're Here for Our Customers
Lifting Up Jamie
For our customer Jamie, reliable transportation is crucial for everything from getting her kids to doctor and therapy appointments to having fun togethers as a family and enjoying summer. “Having a reliable vehicle to get to do some fun things as a family has brought us closer together, and it's made me a better mom for sure.”
Jamie heard a grinding sound from the brakes of her 2007 Honda Pilot and knew that she needed to have service done to keep the kids, herself, and others safe.
“The Lift Garage is a huge asset to the community, especially the poor community, so thank you.”
Lifting Up Helen
For Helen, having a car isn't a luxury—it's a blessing. Helen works in direct service, centered on supporting families, and her car is required for her to get to work.
Working in service to families is Helen's "heart work," and her vehicle is crucial to getting to do the work she loves. She's been coming to The Lift Garage for many years and takes great pride in having a reliable community resource to recommend to her clients and her family.
"I don't think some people understand, it's alright to be on the bus if you live by it, and if your job is by it, and if the work you do is by it, and if it's realistic with bus routes. Being able to have a car is not just a luxury. It's a necessity if you don't live in the metro and everything you do is in the metro."
How We Help Our Customers
Inspection & Repairs
We believe that free and honest advice is the starting point to ensuring safe cars and secure lives. We provide free inspections by experienced mechanics for our customers, focused on safety and drivability issues with their cars.
Then we share our findings with our customers and provide honest advice on the best path forward and an estimate for the low-cost repairs that we can offer. We provide repairs at $25 an hour and a 7.5% markup on parts.
Pre-Purchase Inspections
Searching for a used car isn’t easy, so we offer free pre-purchase inspections to our customers looking to buy a “new-to-them" vehicle! We offer free and honest advice about any repairs needed on the vehicle, so they can make the best use of their funds.
Mobile Van Inspections
Our mobile van program allows us to meet our customers where they’re at—literally! Our mobile van technician does pre-inspections, providing free and honest advice about what's likely wrong with the vehicle.
This gives our customers more decision-making power and helps keep our Lake Street shop running more efficiently!
Express Services
Every Friday from 10:00am to 12:00pm, The Lift provides walk-in Express Services as a wraparound service to our customers. During these hours we can check and top off fluids, check and replace bulbs/headlights, check and replace wiper blades, and even test and replace batteries.
2024 Impact: by the Numbers
1707 Appointments
Gifts from our donors allow us to subsidize about $800 in car repairs for every customer! We provide our low-cost repairs at a rate of $25 an hour and a 7.5% markup for parts.
899 Transportation Support Services
We provide our customers with bus tokens, Uber rides, and overnight lodging for our customers using their vehicle as shelter.
74 Express Services
On Fridays we offer low-cost express services to our customers, including topping off fluids, checking and replacing bulbs, checking batteries, checking tire pressure, and more.
Become a Monthly Sustainer
Your sustaining gift to The Lift Garage helps your neighbors by providing low-cost car repair, free pre-purchase inspections, and honest advice, fueling our vision of Safe Cars, Secure Lives.
