CLIENT STORIES
ChangingGears Means Changing Lives
There’s nothing we love more than hearing from clients who have experienced the life-changing catalyst of earned car ownership. We thought you’d like to hear what people are saying about ChangingGears™, too.
Jade is Creating a Beautiful Life
Seven months in her new job and a place to stay with Bryson and his grandparents, Jade was ready for ChangingGears!
Preziah Pays in Full
Preziah was ready for a change and started her PCA training with a plan for her future.
Mike’s Life-Changing Repairs
He was determined to maintain his job and wanted the same for his girlfriend too. Mike reached out to his CityLink Service Coordinator who connected him with the ChangingGears Repair Program.
90 Days and Counting!
Markeith reached a point in his life when he realized that he needed more. He had worked some different jobs in different cities, but they all felt unfulfilling.
Ryan’s Tough Year Leads to a Fresh Start
Getting on the wrong bus that day led Ryan to landing exactly where he was supposed to be.
Lynn Is In It For The Long Haul!
But she didn’t give up, this setback led Lynn to start her own business making and selling BBQ sauce!
Latoya Leads with Love
Latoya said she is no stranger to public transportation. It was a part of her childhood and even into adulthood until she got her own driver’s license at age 30.
Garrett’s Goals
Garrett came to the ChangingGears Automotive Technician Training Program ready to participate in all of its benefits and achieve the goals he had set for himself! He wanted to learn all he could, graduate, get a good job and then purchase a car.
His hunger is inspiring!
Daniel knew he needed a fresh start and he was ready to work hard for it! He initially connected with ChangingGears through our Auto Technician Training Program and graduated with flying colors in November 2022. During this time, Daniel was also able to purchase a Yaris through our Vehicle Purchase Program.
I’m Getting Back on My Horse
Creating a fresh start is HARD WORK but Jason didn’t shy away from the challenge. Jason shared that with the help of CityLink and ChangingGears he was able to get back on his horse.
Stay Strong Minded & Stick to Your Guns
On the hunt for a better life, Amy found CityLink and started the Cornerstone Construction Training in February 2023. Some tough challenges came up, but Amy stayed strong and stuck to her guns, allowing her to graduate from her Cornerstone Construction Training and purchase her car from ChangingGears all in one day!
Living for Her Little Girl
With nothing but a garbage bag of personal items, $10 in her pocket, and the courage to make a better life for her unborn child, Kayla left an abusive relationship with no home and no car. She moved in with her family and started working at Burger King, relying on the bus for transportation.
Keep Moving Forward
"Keep moving forward" is Jamie's mantra when she encounters challenges in life. At the beginning of 2022, Jamie was working a factory job she didn't like and borrowing her dad's car to get there. While the job was stable, it offered few opportunities for career advancement.
Meet “Perseverance”
Frank showed up for his Findlay Culinary Training graduation soaked from head to toe. After riding the bus for an hour to get downtown, he rushed to the Red Bike station just as it started to rain. He threw a poncho over his chef clothes, but the thin plastic couldn’t keep him dry in the downpour. He arrived minutes before the graduation started, and was able to borrow some dry clothes from CityLink Center to attend
Stay Humble and Don’t Give Up
When she walked through the doors of CityLink Center, Rachel was searching for a career path and transportation. She lived with her mom, seven children, and fiance who had a terminal health diagnosis. Her hands were full, but she knew something needed to change.
Opportunities are Endless with Training Program
When Abdoulaye applied for the ChangingGears Automotive Technician Training Program, he had no idea the new career would lead to a 33% pay increase and immeasurable impact to his personal life.
"I am a living example of their mission"
“I am a living example of their mission to empower people who are working toward prosperity,” Guy shared with the audience at ChangingGears Grand Opening in April 2022. Guy, who received a car from ChangingGears five years ago, came back to inspire others with his story.
Grand Opening: Celebrating How God Showed Up
“God doesn’t just give things to us, he uses people to help,” Marnie Bokelman shared with the audience at the ChangingGears Grand Opening on April 7, 2022. “We are so grateful to all of our clients, volunteers, staff members, donors and business partners for sacrificing their time, sharing their resources, and donating money and vehicles to help fuel ChangingGears.”
ChangingGears Auto Technician Training Program Launches Careers
“The ChangingGears Automotive Technician Training was really impactful for me in starting my career,” Aaron shared. “Getting to do so much hands-on learning is great, because that’s how I prefer to learn.
"You might be fixing cars but you allowed me to move forward with my life"
When Jordan’s car broke down in December 2021, she was devastated. She had it assessed at a traditional car shop but didn’t have $900 on hand to fix the clutch.