Client 155: Supporting an Army Veteran

We hate to see military veterans in need of our services. A reliable vehicle should be the least of their worries when returning to civilian life. Yet we can also rejoice, because as our most recent client proves, when a veteran is in need, this community truly answers the call. Donald is an Army veteran and single dad raising his kindergarten-age daughter and caring for his ailing mom. He plays the drums in his church’s worship band and works for the city of Bryan. But when his previous vehicle died, all of that hard work was jeopardized. Not only could he no longer get to his job, he couldn’t get his daughter to school or himself to the nearest VA hospital 90 miles away for doctor’s appointments. With used vehicle prices rising 50% in the last two years, far outstripping wage growth, there was simply no way he could afford the vehicle he needed.

Fortunately, a marine veteran and fellow church leader named Khadija noticed Donald’s need. She nominated him to OnRamp and we quickly got to work. Once approved, we needed to raise the funds for a vehicle large enough to fit him and his family. That’s when you, our generous donors stepped up, along with a wonderful local veterans support organization, Brazos Valley Cares. They donated $10,000 to his case, and with the additional financial support of our donors, we purchased a reliable Toyota Rav4 for Donald. And here’s the best part. Our OnRamp vehicle acquisition volunteer, who happens to also be an Army veteran himself, Joe DeWolf, found and purchased the vehicle here in Texas from another Marine veteran! So that’s three veterans plus a veterans organization stepping up to help this worthy Army veteran in need! What a great community!

Thank you, as always, to Christian Brothers Automotive for repairing and prepping the vehicle for Donald, along with our whole team of interviewers and care providers who welcomed Donald into the OnRamp family. We’re grateful for this opportunity to serve a veteran and his daughter and mother in their moment of need.

From Homeless to Homeowners

Over the years, we have heard many stories of transformative growth in the lives of our clients, but few are as powerful as the McDonald family. James and Shauner were nominated to us by Family Promise and gifted a Honda Accord in December of 2019. Here is their story as told by James (edited for length).

OnRamp helped us in several ways that we are so thankful for, that it's difficult to put into words. While I was working in Tulsa, we were informed that the owner of the home we were renting in BCS was going to sell. He gave us 42 days to get out. I was in a bind as my employer told me that if I left Tulsa (to help move my family), I would lose my job. I stayed in Tulsa for as long as I could to make as much money as I could before coming home and moving the family out of the rental and into a hotel. Living in hotels while trying to find a home for rent and having no income was costly and exhausted all of our resources which led to us staying in a shelter.

This is where we learned about OnRamp and ended up being nominated by one of the workers from the shelter. The blessing of being approved for a vehicle allowed us the ability to accept a job and move out of the shelter and back into a home.

Since being blessed with the vehicle, we have both been back at work and now are in the process of finding and purchasing a new home. I have since moved on to another company that allows me to work from home and pays more. Shauner is also working full time and we have purchased a second vehicle. Our daughter is now enrolled at a premiere charter school and is getting all A’s. To think that this all started because we were blessed with the ability to get around and become gainfully employed has led to more blessings than we can count.

We are now pursuing the possibility of blessing someone else with a vehicle through OnRamp as well. That is our goal for later this year.

Since sending us this letter a few months ago, James and Shauner have purchased a home of their own. From homeless to homeowners in just a few years through the gift of reliable transportation!

If you want to make a transformative impact for the Lord in the lives of local families like the McDonald’s, please consider donating to our ministry by clicking “GIVE” and/or volunteering with us by clicking “JOIN US”.

Client 153, Dialysis, and Deacons

Hilario G., client 153: first client as far as I can remember who when I finished praying for him, grabbed my hand and prayed over me and OnRamp. He's in dialysis 3 times a week for the last 3 years but still makes time to care for his family, serve as a mentor to new dialysis patients, and volunteer in ministry through his church. His previous car was literally stolen while he was hooked up to a dialysis machine ! Not only did that threaten his current treatment, but also his hope of a transplant. You can't qualify for a transplant without proof of reliable, personal transportation to get to and from the transplant hospital in Houston. Now he has a reliable car to get back to treatment and, lord-willing, on the transplant list.

Two personal thoughts.

(1) As I've said many times before, we're not the heroes in these stories. Our clients are. They are not just surviving, they are serving and sacrificing to meet the needs around them even when they don't have the reliable transportation we take for granted everyday. Just imagine what they can do with the tool of a dependable vehicle!

(2) This particular client helps me answer the questions, "What is OnRamp in God's economy and what role do I play in His church?" I think I'm beginning to understand. We who are privileged to work in faith-based charities like OnRamp are the Deacons of God's Church. Hilario, like most of our clients, is a believer and fellow servant in God's church who happens to urgently need material assistance in the form of a vehicle. Based on Acts 6, the deacons are called to lead the church in meeting this need. In our modern, mutli-denominational, socio-economically stratified world, that's no longer doable for individual local churches. The cost and expertise required are too high for most small churches. So God creates faith-based charities to pool the efforts of the universal church in a particular community to meet the needs of brothers and sisters like Hilario. We, of course, also serve those who do not identify as Christians - we would never discriminate based on beliefs - but a core part of our service is to our Acts 6 brothers and sisters in need. So, that's a complex way of saying that if you're wondering where OnRamp, Habitat for Humanity, SOS Ministries, Unbound, APO, etc fit into the Church and God's economy... I think we're the deacons. That said, I'm not an expert Just my opinion on how all this fits together.

If you can help OnRamp continue serving those in need, including many fellow believers, we have 12 more fully-approved clients awaiting vehicles that we haven't yet had the funds to purchase. Please visit our website and click "Give" to partner with us to serve the next amazing client.

Pictures shared with permission.

Another Milestone: Client 150

We’ve reached another milestone: 150 clients have received reliable vehicles from OnRamp since 2017! Our newest client, Danisha, is a hard-working single mom of a three-year-old daughter, and was nominated by Project Unity. Danisha works full-time as a supervision officer at the Juvenile Detention Center and aspires to go back to school to get a degree in Criminal Justice. But when the vehicle she counted on finally died, her job and education were both at risk. OnRamp accepted her into our program with one required step, to build up her rainy-day savings. As soon as she succeeded, we joyously donated this Toyota Yaris to her and her young daughter. We’ll continue to invest in her life to help her grow in her faith and self-sufficiency. Thank you SO much to all who helped make this possible!

Update on Karen: thanks to the generous donations of many of you, we were able to buy a Honda CRV for Karen, a local widow on our waiting list who we shared with you a few weeks ago. We’ve purchased the SUV and are preparing it for donation!

AUGUST NEEDS

We are still raising money for a vehicle for local Army veteran and single father Donald. Click here to help us complete this campaign.

And today we’re kicking off our next project… and it’s a big one. It’s finally time to bless the three female Afghan refugees we’ve been helping with vehicles of their own! We provided drivers’ education to them over the last year and they’ve all succeeded in getting their licenses. But since so much of their income goes home to their families who are still trying to survive in Afghanistan, none of them has sufficient money to buy a vehicle. That means they walk in this heat to work, the store, and anywhere else they need to go. Please help us share Jesus’ love with these brave women by donating to this campaign at this link.

WHEELS, WATCHES, WHISKEY

If you like any of those things and want to support OnRamp, join us Saturday, August 19 at 7pm at the Stella Hotel for this fundraiser that was created by our friend Michael Satterfield. Tickets can be found here.

TIME TO FIX SOME BIKES

As we do every year, OnRamp will partner with Grace Bible Church to repair donated bicycles to be given for free to incoming International Students at Grace’s annual Big Give event. If you want to help, bring your bike tools and show up to Grace Anderson’s College Auditorium Monday, August 14th from 1pm - 4pm. And if you’ve got a good condition bike to donate, bring it to the Grace Bible Anderson College Auditorium (701 Anderson St) Sunday, Aug 13, between 1:30 and 3:30PM.

Final word:

I’m headed on a much needed vacation for the next couple of weeks. We won’t have blog posts during that time. See you back mid-August!

8 Tips to make your vehicle last as long as possible

We have created a valuable new video for you all! Here are our 8 tips for making your vehicle last as long as possible. Your car or truck will be nicer and run longer if you follow this advice! Please, please watch this and share this with others. This will be required watching for all OnRamp clients, but will help anyone reduce the pain and expense of vehicle repairs.

Huge thanks to Rami Cerone for helping me with this.

Client 149: Happy Birthday, Mandy!

Stephanie, our Ops Director, praying over Mandy, her kids, and her new minivan. We pray for God’s protection for every OnRamp client.

We had no idea until we arrived at the tax office yesterday that it was actually our 149th client’s birthday! God’s timing is perfect. This single mom of five was nominated to us by her Mary Kay coach who has known her and been involved in her life for years. Mandy was on track financially and close to completing her social work degree this coming spring, but then disaster struck. The minivan her and her children depended on for work, doctors appointments, and school was totaled in an accident, and she was unable to replace it. But thanks to the faithful support of donors like you, OnRamp was able to purchase, prepare, and gift her this Toyota Sienna, the “best birthday present ever,” according to Mandy!

Let us close by telling you about one of our next deserving clients on our waiting list. Karen, a widow from Oklahoma, moved to Texas last year after her son passed away. She has proven to be remarkably self-sufficient with one exception: she cannot afford to purchase a reliable vehicle on her fixed income. She must walk or find a ride wherever she needs to go, including church. In fact, that’s how she met her advocate, Dan. He saw her walking to their church, Antioch Community, one Sunday and invited her to join he and his wife’s Life Group. A vehicle would allow Karen the freedom to get a job, attend more church activities, and grow her connections to her new community here in Texas.

Please consider helping us reach our goal of raising $10,000 to purchase and prepare a reliable vehicle for Karen. We’re already over half way there!

OnRamp's 9-Steps

Finally, after months of work, we are releasing our new “9-Step” video and process chart that walks prospective applicants, advocates, and donors through the entire OnRamp ministry. This is the process we follow for every client to maximize transformative impact in their lives. It is SO MUCH MORE than just a car! We are deeply involved in clients’ lives for an entire year to help them use the gifted vehicle as a tool to accomplish our goals.

So without further ado, here’s OnRamp’s 9-Steps…

And here’s a diagram of the 9-Step process itself. This is what every client works through during their time with OnRamp.

We want to give a huge thanks to our amazing marketing volunteer, Jason Pulliam, who brought along a team of creatives to refine this process and video. We are very proud of the results!

Client 148: "We Love you Coach Hill"

Click to play 10pm newscast story from KBTX

As every 80’s child knows thanks to the A-Team, “I love it when a plan comes together!” Yesterday we witnessed a divine plan come together in a way we could never have foreseen to bless a dearly loved coach with the gift of freedom. Calvin Hill, a coach and special education teacher at Rudder High School, was involved in a horrific accident in November when an SUV struck the bus he was driving and ignited an inferno that cost Calvin his legs and almost his life. After six months in the hospital, Calvin and his wife Sabrina are finally back in their home in College Station. Unfortunately, they did not have a wheelchair capable vehicle and were therefore unable to go anywhere other than medical appointments where special buses were provided. Calvin couldn’t go to the store, church, or visit his team at Rudder. It felt imprisoning.

But God had a plan. Out of the blue, last December a local family offered to give OnRamp a Chrysler Town and Country Mobility van that already had an automated wheelchair ramp installed. This is the first mobility vehicle we’ve ever been donated because they are incredibly expensive vehicles. We scooped it up immediately even though we had no client for it. For six months it sat in our inventory as we reached out to health care providers, county governments, and other local charities looking for someone to bless with it. Nothing panned out. Then one month ago, Chase Sanford, a good friend of Calvin’s and fellow coach at the time at Rudder reached out to us about he and Sabrina’s situation. The nomination, application, and interview came together in record time, and we approved Calvin without hesitation. But there was one last crucial test: would his chair fit in the van? Not all do. These are typically custom installs built around a particular person’s chair and mobility. So we met last week at Calvin’s house, crossed our fingers, and then rejoiced as Calvin’s chair ran up the ramp and negotiated the cabin without any trouble. God obviously knew ahead of time what Calvin would need!

On Wednesday we gathered with the Rudder Rangers team to clean and detail the van in front of their field house. No OnRamp vehicle has ever gotten so much love or so many volunteers! Then yesterday we gathered at the Hill’s home to gift them their new van and teach them how to use all the straps and mobility features to keep Calvin safe inside. As we prayed over the Hills and over their van, I was struck once again at how perfectly God arranged all the pieces to provide for His children!

We want to give thanks to the generous local family who donated this van to OnRamp. None of this would have been possible without you! Thank you to my good friend and manager of Christian Brothers, Jeremy Smith, who not only got the van ready mechanically for Calvin, but came out to show Sabrina how to attach and secure all the straps and locks. His expertise was invaluable. Thank you to the whole Christian Brothers and Discount Tire families that prepared the van for us at a huge discount. Thank you Rudder Rangers for loving the Hills so well. And thank you KBTX for sharing this story so well.

Giving Back, Getting More

Guest post by board member, Taylor Carlson

In 2020, I became an Advocate with OnRamp, meaning that I nominated a potential client to the ministry. Truthfully, I knew very little about OnRamp at the time other than “they help people with transportation needs.” I walked into our interview with OnRamp along with a co-advocate and our client, Jamie, right before Covid hit. I was expecting a conversation about her life, her needs, and my support of her goals. Professionally, client advocacy has been a constant in my world for the last decade working in care ministry.

But that interview was pivotal. It wasn’t just a conversation, it was empowerment. The interview team looked at all areas of a client’s life holistically, including health, finances, community support, faith-based support, family needs, etc. It was in-depth and intentional. They also asked me questions as an advocate that made me stop and think, which, truthfully, changed the way I’ve approached any type of client advocacy since.

Throughout the entire process from interview to donation, I was blown away by the level of care Jamie received from this team (she received her car from OnRamp in August of 2020). Personally, I was also shocked at the level of interest the team had in me as an advocate! They followed up with emails and phone calls, they shared helpful information, and they asked challenging questions. At the donation, I knew I was interested in spending more time with OnRamp and asked how I could partner with them. I knew the truth: that OnRamp doesn’t just “help with transportation,” they help with transformation.

As a mother of three, I know how hard it is to load kiddos up to leave the house for an activity… but to load car-seats into a friend’s vehicle every time you need to get groceries? I understand how difficult it can be to live on a tight budget… but to have your income limited because you are reliant on public transportation to pick up additional shifts at work? The challenges our clients have faced are nothing in comparison to their perseverance and determination to change their circumstances. It’s compelling, it’s challenging, and it’s hopeful that anyone can make a difference in our community.

I quickly completed my training and jumped into the Client Care Committee in 2020. Both over Zoom and in person, I interviewed dozens of clients. Some of those clients were in need of resources, assistance, and care during incredibly difficult life situations. Some of those clients were ready for a vehicle and just needed the coaching to meet their goals. I’ve interviewed single moms, refugees, grandmothers, caretakers, and veterans; every single time, I have been reminded of the privilege it is to be invited into someone’s life, and I have been delighted to watch new opportunities unfold through the empowerment of transformation. Our client care committee truly celebrates every single client’s success!

Now, three years later, I am more committed to OnRamp than I could have imagined in those early days! I LOVE to talk about the life changes I’ve seen, because even though I have not received a vehicle from OnRamp, my life has absolutely been changed by these stories, these volunteers, and these incredible clients. I began my time with OnRamp while I was a Care Director at a local church. Now, I am home with my triplets (yes, you read that right!) diving in deeper with OnRamp as a board member and a volunteer consultant for the Client Care Committee. I hope my children will see the kind of hands-on love and care for our community that OnRamp has helped instill in my life.

If you’re looking for a way to make a difference in our community, to truly empower others, I’d love for you to join our team, whether that be through your time, your prayer, or your finances.

Client 147: Adored, and an Urgent Need

OnRamp gifted a minivan to our 147th client last week, a woman whose identity we need to keep private. This single mom is raising five kids ages 7 months to 8 years, and these kids absolutely adore her. I got to spend a half hour inside the tax office with her kids (and even hold her 7-month-old, which is very fun for this gray haired dad-of-teens!) and watched how well they responded to their mom. They were a delight. Project Unity sponsored her after watching her overcome significant adversity while remaining positive and hopeful. She inspired all of us who met her. We could not have gifted her this minivan without the support of Christian Brothers Corporate who donated it to OnRamp. Their local franchises here in BCS, every other franchise we’ve worked with, and their corporate staff have continually partnered in OnRamp’s efforts to share Jesus’ love with families in need.

But now I need to ask for help.

While we rejoice for client 147, we are struggling to raise funds for the ten additional fully-approved clients waiting on our list for a vehicle. We’ve got multiple single moms raising young kids, trying desperately to hold down jobs and make doctor appointments without a vehicle. We have a grandmother trying to get to her very sick grandson at Texas Children’s in Houston. We’ve got a single dad who is a veteran trying his best to care for his young kids. We’ve got three Afghan female refugees fleeing Taliban violence who’ve found a home here in BCS but can’t get around without a vehicle. They send much of their discretionary income home to parents in Afghanistan who are just trying to stay alive. They desperately need our help to create a new life here in Texas.

These ten worthy individuals and the families they are supporting have completed all the action steps we’ve required of them, been through applications and interviews and follow-ups, and are now just waiting for us to receive the funds needed to purchase reliable cars and SUV’s, vehicles that will mean freedom and opportunity for each of them. At approximately $8,000 to buy each vehicle and $2,000 to fully repair, prep, and maintain for a year (a core part of our ongoing ministry to clients), we need to raise $100,000 to serve these ten hard-working clients.

Can you help us with a one-time special gift or by becoming a monthly donor (what we call our Drivers of Hope)? Please click this link to donate electronically or by check or stock. Do you know anyone who might want to donate to OnRamp or learn more about partnering with us? Please direct them to our website and feel free to give them my contact information (blakej@onramptx.org). I would love to talk with them and share our ministry and our vision.

One final note: I want to especially thank the Bryan Rotary Club for partnering with OnRamp by donating $3,000 towards this need. Thank you all for your generosity and heart for service!

Kingdom and Cars

Guest post by board member Austin Rogers

What if I told you that OnRamp was as much about a kingdom as it was about cars?

As a child, one of the fuzziest concepts in the Bible to me was the “Kingdom of God.” I assumed it was perhaps another term for “the Heavens” where God lives. Or maybe it is some future perfect state of existence when all of creation has been redeemed by God. Or maybe it’s just another word for the Church.

The Kingdom of God is a mysterious concept, but it’s one Jesus spoke often about. He wanted us to lean in and seek out the deep truths of God’s Kingdom.

Let me briefly share a few of those deep truths.

The Kingdom of God = believers leading and serving in multiple charities partnering together to serve foster kids and recovering addicts.

First, every Kingdom needs a king. Who is the king in the Kingdom of God? Both the Old and New Testaments seem to specify that Jesus, the Messiah, is the king of God’s Kingdom. In Peter’s sermon after Pentecost in Acts 2:30, Peter explains that God has fulfilled His promise from Jeremiah 23 and elsewhere to “set one of [David’s] descendants on his throne,” referring of course to Jesus. And in Revelation 17, John describes the “Lamb” (Jesus) as the “Lord of lords and King of kings.”

Second, why call it a “kingdom”? Is this just a historical leftover from an age when kings and kingdoms were common? Actually, there’s a crucial reality to the Kingdom of God that transcends time or culture. I love the way George Eldon Ladd describes it in his classic book, The Gospel of the Kingdom. Rather than referring to a certain territory, government, or people group, the Bible primarily uses “kingdom” to describe “the authority to rule” or “the sovereignty of the king.” “The Kingdom of God is His kingship, His rule, His authority,” Ladd writes. So, when Jesus says we must “receive the Kingdom of God” like little children in Mark 10:15, He is teaching us to enter into God’s Kingdom by accepting His authority over our lives. This is also why Jesus taught His followers to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” It is a request for God’s good and perfect desires for His creation to happen here and now, and in praying this prayer, it also aligns our hearts with God’s.

Third, Jesus speaks about the kingdom both as being something coming in the future and something we enter into and live out now. Understanding God’s Kingdom as His authority expressed in our lives helps to make sense of this paradox. In Matthew 13, Jesus compares the Kingdom to crops growing amid the weeds, symbolizing the way in which God’s will is carried out by His people in the world even amidst the evil and brokenness that we see all around us.

“Kingdom of God” = one church family sponsoring a believing widow’s family for a vehicle donation = Christians sacrificing to meet one another’s physical needs.

Today, the Kingdom of God is limited to the degree to which His will is done and His authority recognized “on earth as it is in heaven,” but someday God will destroy all sin, brokenness, and death and redeem the world so that His Kingdom extends across all of creation.

Fourth, what exactly does life look like in God’s Kingdom? This is perhaps the most exciting part of all! In the Old Testament, we find a beautiful vision of prosperity and peace between humans as well as between humans and creation. It’s a state of existence where nations no longer go to war and people no longer inflict pain on each other (see, for example, Isaiah 2:2-4 and Micah 4:3). It’s a world where all of creation is at peace with itself, where “the wolf will lie down with the lamb” and the “child will put his hand on the viper’s den” (Isaiah 11:1-9).

In the New Testament, Jesus, who is often called the “prince of peace,” taught his followers to be peacemakers who “will be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).

What about prosperity? In the Old Testament, we find a vision of God’s Kingdom as an abundant feast and a state of plenty. “You will still be eating last year’s harvest when you have to move it out to make room for the new,” describes Leviticus 26:10.

In the New Testament, we find Jesus proclaiming that the good news of the Kingdom is, among other things, “good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18). The “abundant life” that Jesus said he came to bring us in John 10:10 is both spiritual and material – not that God wants His people to enjoy riches that others don’t have, but rather that He wants His people to participate in bringing about this abundance through providing for the needs of others.

This vision of shared prosperity is illustrated beautifully in the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 15), where God says “there will be no poor among you.” It is not that God himself will supernaturally provide for everyone’s physical needs, but rather His people would do so themselves. When someone in the community had need, God gave this instruction: “you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.” And we know from elsewhere in the Bible that when God tells His people to lend, they are to do so out of love, “expecting nothing in return” (Luke 6:35-36).

OnRamp’s volunteer Vehicle Repair Director, Jeremy Smith, winning Christian Brother’s Corporate “Lighthouse” award for being a light to the community through his service to OnRamp.

There’s a real-life example of this beautiful vision found in the New Testament. Right after Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came upon believers for the first time, the gathered Christians suddenly realized the profound need that existed among them and were driven to radical generosity, even selling their property and possessions to provide for anyone who had need. (See Acts 2 and 4.) When the Spirit of God came upon the believers, so also did His Kingdom – His reign, His authority, His will being carried out on earth as it is in heaven. And a characteristic trait of God’s Kingdom is that everyone’s physical needs are met, often by God’s own people. God has a huge heart for the poor, and so should we.

And now we see the connection from a kingdom to cars! We see the work that we do at OnRamp not just as a “good deed” or a nice thing to do, but in a very real way as participation in the Kingdom of God. We get to partner with God in bringing the good news of the Kingdom to those who have need. OnRamp’s assistance in meeting those needs has a profoundly positive impact on the lives of our clients, and is our way of advancing God’s kingdom on earth so that His will is done a bit more on earth as it is in heaven. That makes OnRamp’s mission one of the most strategic and exciting activities we can imagine!

Drivers of Hope

Introducing our DRIVERS OF HOPE campaign. Monthly giving to our ministry has an outsized impact because it provides the stability and predictability that allow us to provide consistent care for our clients. We are so grateful for our monthly donors that we’ve decided to give them a name that reflects the difference they’re making in this community. They are our Drivers of Hope! They keep this ministry driving forward. They help us build the kingdom of God here in the Brazos Valley. We’ve donated vehicles and a full year of support to 145 clients and families so far, but with the help of monthly donors, that’s just the start!

If you would like to become a Driver of Hope, simply set up a monthly donation for any amount by clicking HERE. You’ll begin to receive new correspondence meant just for this group. We plan to send our Drivers of Hope quarterly updates on our ministry that will give more in-depth information on our long-term plans and strategies than what we typically share in our public blog posts. We also plan to gather our Drivers of Hope every year to meet with our staff and board and celebrate the impact God is making through this ministry. We would love to have you become part of this group of partners making an eternal impact in the Brazos Valley by sharing the love of God through the tangible gift of reliable transportation.

Please SHARE this opportunity with anyone in your life who might want to partner with OnRamp. Blake or Stephanie would love the chance to meet with them in person or talk on the phone or by email if they would like any additional information, or simply to meet and share the impact of this ministry. We can be reached at blakej@onramptx.org or stephaniem@onramptx.org. Please help us build our family of donors so we can continue to grow our impact on this community for the Lord.

Client 146: A single dad of FIVE

OnRamp serves single parents more than any other demographic, and while most are single moms, we are delighted to bless single dads as well. Our 146th client, John, is a loving and devoted dad to his FIVE kids, ages 5-14, who all live with him. He works full-time for the city of College Station plus part-time for a local funeral home to pay all the bills, and spends the rest of his time caring for these children. But that got much harder when the engine in his truck died. It was too old to repair, and left the family stranded. John was able to borrow a relative’s car on occasion, but it could only fit a few of his children at any given time. So every day, John would wake early to drive the 3 younger children along with his nephew to their school in Bryan, then come home and pick up the older two to take to their charter school in College Station, and then head to work. In the afternoon, he’d do everything in reverse. And that was on good days when he could borrow a vehicle. This meant family trips to church, the grocery store, or the movie theater were impossible.

Fortunately, our great friends at Methodist Children’s Home nominated John to OnRamp for a vehicle donation. We gladly accepted him into the OnRamp family and donated this Honda Odyssey to him last week. Not only does John once again have a vehicle of his own, but he can now transport his whole family in one go! They can do and see all of the things families should be able to do and see. We are so grateful to help this single dad continue to love and provide for his kids.

As usual, we want to thank our Client Care volunteers for leading this case, especially Tiffany Thompson and Mary Johnson, Joe Dewolf for finding this van, Christian Brothers Automotive for doing all the needed maintenance and repair at a huge discount, and our volunteer Brent Hairston for cleaning and prepping this vehicle for donation. As always, name, story, and pictures are shared with client permission.

In case you missed it, OnRamp wrote a book to help you find and purchase a reliable used car without getting taken advantage of. It includes our list of best and worst used vehicles for reliability, tips for avoiding scams, and many more helpful tricks to make your car buying and ownership process as painless as possible. Download for $20 here, with all proceeds going to OnRamp to help us afford more vehicles for clients like John.

Client 145: From Foster Care to Robotics

People are sometimes shocked when they first find out what we do. “You give away cars for free?!” But when you meet the men and women we serve, such as Kirsten, our 145th client, you begin to realize that the better question is, “How can we NOT gift a car to a person like her!?”

Kirsten is one of the more than 1,200 young adults who age out of the foster care system every year in Texas without being adopted. Sadly, across America, only 3% of these kids will graduate with a bachelor’s degree, only half will obtain employment by age 24, and 1 in 4 will end up homeless within four years of leaving foster care. This is simply unacceptable, and is why a loving family launched Our Daughters House in Brenham. This nonprofit houses young women such as Kirsten who’ve aged out of foster care, providing not only shelter, but also coaching, support, and love to help each woman grow and succeed.

Kirsten with Kris Williams and Crissy Abbey of Our Daughters House

That path to success almost always requires a vehicle since mass transit is not an option. With rides from ODF volunteers, Kirsten got a great job at Bluebell and diligently saved $2000. But that’s not enough to afford a reliable vehicle. So ODH nominated her to OnRamp and we accepted her without reservations. How could we not when her advocate told us, “Kirsten is a daughter of Our Daughters House and currently works a full-time job as a robot operator for Bluebell. She is saving for a car as well as school in the spring, she plans to major in mechanical engineering. Kirsten has really impressed me with the amount of hours she works on top of volunteering, helping around the house, keeping up with her steady budget, and studying as well as passing the GED… She is kind, caring, and above all else driven to succeed.”

Operates robots at an ice-cream factory and hopes to become a Mechanical Engineer?!?!? If you know my backstory (M.E. in automotive engineering, TAMU class of ’98), you can imagine how much I enjoyed getting to partner with Kirsten on her journey. Yesterday we gifted her a Toyota Rav4 that we pray will serve her well for years to come.

And now the best part. Kirsten is a giver. She wants to help others, not just receive. So that $2000 she had saved for a car… yeah, she donated that in cash to OnRamp to get a car for the next person in line. How awesome is that?! And so yet again I ask you, “How could we NOT gift a car to a person like Kirsten?!”

Your generosity enables this partnership with people just like her. I’m writing this blog post while staring at a board of awaiting clients who are fully approved for vehicles, but we don’t have the funds required. I need two minivans for single parent homes and an SUV for a medically challenged client ASAP. Can you help us continue this essential ministry by donating just as Kirsten did to help these next clients in line?

Finally, in case you missed it, we just published an ebook on how to buy a used car and not get scammed. It’s built on all the data we’ve collected over the last 5 years buying and maintaining over 140 vehicles for our clients. We’ll tell you what used vehicles you should buy, and which you should avoid, as well as teach you how to navigate the used car market without falling prey to crooks and scammers. You can download it by clicking the image below. It’s offered for a suggested donation of $20… but just grab it for free if your funds are tight. We want to make sure you know how to protect yourself and your family when buying a used car.

BIG NEWS: We Wrote a Book!

After seeing so many people fall prey to scammers and crooks in the used car market, or end up with lemons they couldn’t afford to repair, I decided it was time to write an ebook to educate people on the ins-and-outs of buying reliable used cars without getting scammed. So without further ado, here it is for purchase and download:

RELIABLE RIDES: OnRamp’s Used Car Buying Guide

Introducing "Reliable Rides," your go-to guide for navigating the used car market with ease and confidence! This comprehensive 34-page eBook is packed with expert advice on how to buy a used car without getting scammed. Our charity, OnRamp, gifts reliable vehicles to local families in need, so we've been through this purchasing process hundreds of times. We've done the research, learned the lessons, crunched the numbers, and now we're sharing our knowledge with you.

In this valuable guide, you'll discover:

• Data-driven lists of the most reliable and least reliable used cars and SUVs on the market

• Top picks for used vehicles for new drivers

• Details on how to spot scammers and lemons

• Step-by-step instructions on how to inspect and test-drive a vehicle

• The ins-and-outs of auto insurance

• Tips and tricks for keeping your vehicle running smoothly for as long as possible

• And more!

EVERY DOLLAR MADE BY THIS EBOOK GOES DIRECTLY TO ONRAMP TO HELP US BUY AND GIFT MORE VEHICLES TO FAMILIES IN NEED. As of May 2023, OnRamp has gifted reliable cars and SUV's plus a full year of maintenance support to over 140 local clients, empowering them on their journey to self-sufficiency. By investing in your own automotive knowledge, you're also making a difference in someone else's life!

We're offering "Reliable Rides" on a "Pay What You Want" basis with a suggested retail price / donation of $20 (again, 100% of the proceeds go to charity). But if money is tight and you can't afford that amount, please buy it for less, or even just take it for free. Our greatest desire is that no one gets scammed or hurt in the used car market again (we've seen it happen so, so often)! We trust that you'll find our guide incredibly useful, and we hope it empowers you to make informed decisions when purchasing a used car.

Make a positive impact on your automotive future and support a life-changing cause with "Reliable Rides" today!

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I'm very proud of this book and grateful to get to share it with you. Please, please share this resource far and wide. There are so many people who badly need this information. And again, every purchase directly helps OnRamp buy vehicles for awaiting clients, of which we have many (like multiple dozens!)

Huge thanks to Steve Tinkle for this idea, and Jason Pulliam, Jeremy Smith, Rami Cerone, Stephanie Mason, Taylor Carlson, Chip Jennings, and Diane Jennings for helping edit and prep.

Finally, let me know if you have edits or questions. This is just version 1.0, so there's definitely room for improvement.

Client 142: A hard-working single dad

We’re keeping this single dad’s name and picture private. He was nominated by Tanisha who runs Salvation Army’s awesome Pathway of Hope program. According to her, this dad “is determined and a hard worker and doesn’t mind putting in the work to reach his goals.” With Tanisha’s help he found a job, then found an even better job with better pay and made such excellent progress that he graduated from their program in April. Unfortunately, the car he depended on to get to work and get his preschool son to daycare blew a head gasket and wasn’t worth repairing. His employment was suddenly in jeopardy. And even if he could catch a bus, “traveling with a toddler without a vehicle is a daunting and exhausting task” as he stated in his application. As a father who never had to bear that burden, I can only imagine!

So many of you have given so generously to enable OnRamp to help single parents like this dad who just need a hand-up on their journey to self-sufficiency. I want to spotlight one of you, The Bock Realty Group’s Gabe and Megan Bock whose business has steadfastly supported OnRamp over the years. They were most recently the title sponsors for our BigShots event and helped raise the money for this dad’s vehicle. We actually raised enough that night for three vehicles! So thank you so much Bock Realty for helping us help local families striving to make a better life for their kids. This is what grace looks like.

With the help of so many of you, OnRamp was honored to gift this dad and his toddler son a Toyota Corolla with only 52,000 miles on the clock! It should serve them well. Among many goals that this client set for himself, one was, “to be able to take my son on trips to national parks so he can see the beautiful landscape which God has created.” That admirable goal is practically impossible without a vehicle. Now he’s got the tools to share God’s world with his son.

Pictured is advocate Tanisha with the Corolla for client 142. Shared with permission.

Client 141: a Widow from New Orleans

Yesterday, we rejoiced to hand the keys of this beautiful Honda Pilot to our 141st client, Tammy. She, her disabled husband, their kids, and their grandkids were refugees from New Orleans who settled in College Station years ago to make a new life for themselves. Tammy found a job at Walmart five years ago and has faithfully worked there ever since. Thanks to her hard work, the family was able to soldier on until her husband’s health began to decline, putting him in and out of the hospital and eventually confining him to a wheelchair. With bills piling up, their vehicle was eventually repossessed, and then tragically, Tammy’s husband of thirty years passed away this last October. This hard-working widow now struggled to get to work without a car, and was in danger of losing her apartment. She needed a friend and advocate.

Tammy in her new Pilot with her loving advocate, Renee.

Fortunately, God provided a loving friend in Renee Alsandor at New Victory Temple Church. This congregation helped Tammy and her family however they could. When Tammy needed a vehicle, they nominated her to OnRamp. We are grateful that God allows us to partner with churches to bless widows, whom the Bible so clearly advocates for. With this Pilot, Tammy can transport herself to work and her grandkids wherever they need to go. We’ll continue to service the vehicle for a full year, as we do with all our clients, to help Tammy on her journey forward.

We want to give a huge thanks to the anonymous family who donated this pristine vehicle to OnRamp, as well as Christian Brothers Automotive and Discount Tire for helping us prepare it for donation.

If you’d like to help us bless more women like Tammy, please consider donating by visiting HERE. Also, we still have a few items left from our Silent Auction that you can buy directly by visiting HERE.

Our team rejoicing with Tammy, including staff members Blake (left), Cassidy (middle with Peyton in her arms!), and Stephanie (right), Client Care team members David and Mary (next to Blake), and Prayer Team lead, Diane, next to Renee.

THANK YOU from OnRamp

Last Saturday, in conjunction with our first ever Silent Auction, OnRamp hosted our first fundraiser with local business partners at BigShots. These businesses donated money to sponsor bays for their families and employees to enjoy. Through this event combined with the auction, we raised $29,844, enough to provide reliable vehicles to three new client families! We are so grateful for this generosity. Please help us thank these generous sponsors:

Title Sponsor: The Bock Realty Group

Gold Sponsor: Mercedes Benz of College Station

Silver Sponsors: Inspire Physical Therapy, Wright Naeger Dentistry, EOS, Blue Forge Alliance

Bronze Sponsors: Pilgrim Mortgage, RoseRock Capital, WestWebb Law, Thompson Derrig and Craig, Extraco Bank, Stylecraft, Sign Source, Gladney Automotive, Brazos Valley Dermatology

Thank you, also, to the generous donors who gave silent auction and raffle items, including David Gardner, BigShots, Aggieland Scuba, Chef Tai Restaurants, Galleria Day Spa, Fish Window Cleaning, Arrow Pest Control, Mathnasium, Program Insurance Group, The Remnant of Nawlins, College Station Fit Body Boot Camp, Dwight Groves, Lindsey Thomson, Susan Breedlove, and Patti Meyerdirk.

We also want to thank our team of dedicated volunteers, especially our team leaders, Sara Agold, Janine Ford, Jean Marie Rich, and Ryan Mason.

One Auction Day Left... and new items added!

There’s ONE DAY left in OnRamp’s 2023 Silent Auction and we’ve added incredible new items… including a one-owner 1988 Chevy Suburban that is absolutely RAD! This is a running, driving, air-conditioned time machine to the 80’s! Bidding starts at $4,000. Details, pictures, and VIN are in item description, and the clear TX title is in OnRamp’s name. The vehicle was donated by the very kind 89 year old. What a guy!

Also added: a 3-month membership at Fit Body Boot Camp in College Station, a $600 value starting at $300. This program delivers unrivaled fat loss results through their three pillars: Unlimited Workouts, Coaching Accountability, and Nutrition Guidance.

Final addition: 8 tickets to next weekend’s PBR's Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT) at Reed Arena. PBR began in 2014 as the sport's premier expansion series, featuring young, emerging bull riding talent alongside some of the superstars of the sport. These are 4 tickets for Friday night, April 28 at 8pm and 4 tickets for Saturday night, April 29 at Reed Arena. Section 105, row D seats 1-4.

EVERY DOLLAR from this auction goes to helping us buy more Corollas to gift to hard-working local clients in need to help them on their journey to self-sufficiency.

PLEASE SHARE with anyone who might be interested in bidding.

OnRamp's Silent Auction is LIVE!

OnRamp’s 2023 Silent Auction is LIVE as of this morning! Click HERE to bid on great items including sports memorabilia, restaurant and spa gift cards, AirBNB packages, homemade crafts, spirits, and more. We are so grateful to all our generous donors who provided the items for this auction. Bidding closes at 8pm THIS SATURDAY, April 22. Please share this with anyone you know who might be interested in these items. Note that EVERY DOLLAR goes to OnRamp’s mission of gifting reliable vehicles to hard-working families in need.

We want to give special thanks to the amazing Sara Agold and Eric Newman who have helped our Operations Director, Stephanie Mason, pull of this auction, our first ever. We couldn’t have done it without this stellar team!