Cart Providing self-sufficiency through auto maintenance and repairs
04/13
Kevin Vannorsdel, a TI design engineer working in Longmont, CO, founded R12 Charities, a nonprofit that provides assistance to people who are unable to afford necessary auto maintenance and repairs.
After years of coordinating car care activities for those in need through his local church, TI employee Kevin Vannorsdel realized that the needs of the Denver, CO, community would be better served if he established a nonprofit organization.
Kevin, a design engineer working in Longmont, CO, founded R12 Charities in 2010. The nonprofit provides assistance to those in the Denver area who are unable to afford necessary auto maintenance and repairs. It also offers a trustworthy place for those who wish to make tax-deductible financial contributions to support the effort.
R12 maintains relationships with a network of area automotive service providers that have agreed to provide repair and maintenance service to approved clients who present an authorized repair voucher. To date, the nonprofit has helped nearly 150 area families by providing more than $29,000 in professional auto repair services.
Kevin, and his wife Kristin, together have logged hundreds of volunteer hours bringing these vital services to people in need.
"Kevin is dedicated to helping people help themselves," said Brian Keith, a TI employee in Longmont who submitted Kevin's award application. "He and Kristin personally visit each prospective client and evaluate each individual situation for bona fide need."
"I believe each of us has a responsibility to share with those around us who are in need, and it comes with some interesting benefits. There is the obvious benefit of feeling good when someone you helped expresses genuine gratitude. Perhaps a not so obvious benefit is a sort of leveling effect that being exposed to so many needs in your own community has on the priorities in your own life."
— Kevin Vannorsdel
Helping people help themselves
Kevin believes this service helps strengthen the community by allowing those in need to help themselves.
"We work with local agencies to identify individuals who genuinely need assistance and will be able to make use of this service to be self sufficient," Kevin said.
"The provision of these auto repairs has helped many families obtain or maintain their source of income. This helps to strengthen the fabric, and even the economy, of our community."
Through his efforts, Kevin has been able to impact the lives of several people.
"It was great to see someone who really cares about helping someone in need," said Sandy, a person who received car maintenance services through R12 Charities.
"Kevin was very concerned about me driving while my brakes needed to be replaced and he did everything he could to work with my schedule as I am a student and work part-time. I wouldn't have been able to do the repairs to my car without R-12."
"There is nothing that I could think of in having R12 Charities change what they do," said Dean, an R-12 service recipient.
"They are the kindest, most helpful organization that I have ever had the privilege of working with."
