‹‹ Colorado Matters

‘I just couldn’t wrap my mind around people who were so willing to help.’ Colorado non-profit helps single moms steer the course

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20min 23sec
Courtesy Hands of the Carpenter
Priscilla Guerra, a single mother in Littleton, received low-cost car repairs from Hands of the Carpenter. Since 2003, the Colorado founded and operated nonprofit has supported the transportation needs of single mothers with dependent children to help them get back on the road to remain self-sufficient and care for their families.

For many people, having a safe and reliable car is more than just a want; it’s a critical need, and one that can determine whether we can get to work, drop off our children at school, get to the grocery store, or make it to important appointments and meetings… basically a lifeline. But when the vehicle you depend on so much to care for your family requires costly repairs, getting it fixed can be a total budget buster. And for single mothers already struggling to make ends meet, it can feel seemingly impossible.

The Colorado nonprofit, Hands of the Carpenter has taken on the challenge of helping ensure that working single mothers can get the help they need to keep their vehicles on the road and to be self-sufficient. Priscilla Guerra is a single mom in Littleton who knows all too well the struggles of keeping her car running. Crystal Scott is the automotive service director for Hands of the Carpenter. And Daniel Mondragon is the resource development director for Hands of the Carpenter. They spoke with Chandra Thomas Whitfield at the non-profit's headquarters in Golden.

Courtesy Hands of the Carpenter
Hands of the Carpenter, the nonprofit founded in Colorado in 2003, provides low-cost vehicle repairs, maintenance, education and support for single mothers with dependent children with the goal of helping them remain self-sufficient and care for their families.