r SPRINGVILLE — The kindness of strangers has left one single mom with a full heart and new means of transportation.
Sarah recently became a single mother and was left without a car to drive to work and care for the needs of her 2-year-old daughter. Through the efforts of family and strangers, she was gifted a used car that had been repaired, reconditioned and detailed.
“I use it for everything — work, groceries, running errands,” Sarah said.
The car’s donor had purchased a new car and wanted to do something special with the old one. Serve Daily was able to help make connections with local businesses to ensure the car was in tip-top shape before it went to a deserving recipient.
Kevin Dunn, the owner and operator of the Payson and Spanish Fork Big O Tire locations donated the repairs. Big O Tires replaced the clutch and the windshield, polished the headlamp covers and provided an oil change free of charge.
Rhiley Jarret of High Roller Detailing donated his services as well. “He did the best detailing job. I was in shock when the car came back,” said Chris Baird, the publisher of Serve Daily who organized the car giveaway.
When the 06 Hyundai Elantra was ready, Baird set about finding someone in need who would fulfill the vision of those who donated and worked on the car.
He posted an invitation on Facebook for posters to nominate someone in need of a car. Posters needed to tell the story of a deserving recipient, and couldn’t nominate themselves.
Sarah’s sister-in-law saw the post and knew she could put the car to good use. “She wrote about all that was going on in my life and they picked me to give the car to,” Sarah said.
Sarah’s sister-in-law picked her up from work on October 17 and suggested they go for dinner. “We went inside and talked with some people I’d never met before. They said they had a surprise and we went out and they gave me the keys to the car,” Sarah said.
She was shocked and grateful. “I had no idea,” she said.
Sarah is happy she no longer has to rely on other people for rides and can care for herself and her daughter. She is thankful there are those in the community willing to reach out to strangers like herself.
“It makes for a better life for everybody. It makes things work out easier and makes people feel good,” she said.
Baird said part of the mission of Serve Daily is to encourage community members to reach out to those around them to give a helping hand. He’s made it his personal mission to promote Random Acts of Kindness Moments or RAKM in the community.
“I think it is vital to do random acts of kindness to create moments of joy in our own lives and that of others around us,” he said. “It is amazing to see the facial expressions, which often include tears, when a RAKM (pronounced Rack-Em) is done. Going outside of your immediate group allows you to see the lives other live and help improve their situations.”
Baird said all random acts don’t have to be grand, like the car giveaway. “Many can be as simple as a smile, 5 to 10 minutes talking with someone, dropping off a treat to someone, shoveling a sidewalk, or one of many other simple things to create the special moments,” he said.
