For Immediate Release

Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019

Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

GLTS Students Repair Vehicle for Local Nonprofit

LAWRENCE — A car repaired by Greater Lawrence Technical students last spring is making a difference, thanks to a partnership with a local nonprofit.

Last spring, Greater Lawrence Tech juniors and seniors repaired dents, replaced a door and re-painted a silver Honda sedan.The vehicle had been donated to the nonprofit organziation Second Chance Cars by a Brookline woman.

Second Chance Cars works with area nonprofits to provide cars to veterans and formerly incarcerated people in need of a personal vehicle to access job opportunities, among other quality of life needs. According to a recent report by MassINC, the majority of gateway city residents rely on personal vehicles as a result of limited public transportation and as jobs have moved outside of their cities of residence.

“Our partnership with Second Chance Cars allows our students to use their skills to help someone in our area in a way that could completely change their life, and knowing their work is having a meaningful impact on our community is incredibly rewarding for them,” Superintendent John Lavoie said. “We’re thrilled our students were able to repair this vehicle, and thankful that they had such a wonderful opportunity to take their work and make a difference for someone else.”

Since the car was repaired, Second Chance Cars began working with the Lawrence Dream Network to identify a local person in need of a motor vehicle. This month, the Honda was awarded to a Merrimack Valley woman who was previously incarcerated and is working to rebuild her life and establish herself in the job market.

“GLTS has been an amazing partner to Second Chance Cars, fixing up cars we get donated professionally and at a very low cost,” said Second Chance Cars Executive Director Dan Holin. “We literally could not afford to provide our cars to low income veterans and returning citizens if GLTS in particular, as well as other vocational schools, did not support our cause.”

Second Chance Cars provides refurbished vehicles to individuals for a $900, 12-month loan at 0% interest. This allows beneficiaries of Second Chance Cars to earn the vehicle affordably and rebuild their credit. To learn more or to donate a vehicle, visit www.secondchancecars.org/.

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