Rides for a Reason
“When Maggie presented the idea to me, it was an easy ‘yes’ because it connects you and what you’re learning to what you’re going to do in your field, but the bonus is you get to serve a need in our community. For me, it hits all of that. It's an automatic 'Yes'.”
Eve Knudtsen
Knudtsen Chevrolet President
What is Rides for a Reason?
One challenge to rising out of poverty that we’ve heard over and over again is the need for transportation: you can’t get to work, medical appointments, and school without a reliable means of transportation to get there.
Rides for a Reason is a car exchange program originally founded in 2022 by Charity Reimagined in partnership with Kootenai Technical Education Campus (KTEC) to alleviate these transportation challenges for those in the low-income and ALICE (asset-limited, income-constrained, employed) population.
RIDES has been rapidly growing, and we now partner with several local auto shops who provide labor costs at a discounted rate.
How Does It Work?
Charity Reimagined receives cars donated by community members. These cars are then tuned up as needed by our partner auto shops who provide labor at a reduced cost. Finally, the cars are sold at a significantly discounted price to eligible clients of our referring partners who need a little help hurdling the barrier of transportation. Mountain West Bank has now made low-interest loans available for those purchasing cars through RIDES.
With the help of our amazing partner organizations, those buying cars through RIDES will attend:
- A 3-week budgeting course through
Mountain West Bank that offers 1x1 coaching with a professional banker covering budgeting, savings, and debt management. The class will go over vehicle maintenance costs, loans, insurance, and savings for a future vehicle.
- A basic car repair workshop (Car Care 101) through
Lake City Auto.
The end result?
Recipients have buy-in and the
dignity of
earning a reliable vehicle.
Natausha Green, the first person to own a car through Rides for a Reason. Read Natasha's story here.
The High Schoolers:
To make it even sweeter, the KTEC high schoolers working on some of these cars have the opportunity to change someone’s life, but not by giving them a handout. These students are given the gift of eyes that are opened to the hurting, but capable, world around them, and the creative ways we can love our neighbors.
Automotive students at KTEC designed the logo and named the program, a fitting beginning for the incredible impact these students have on our community through their work.
