Wheels For Workers
By: Shayla Patrick
Updated: February 8, 2013
JOPLIN - For Jeffrey Shepherd getting to work on days like this isn't always a walk in the park.
"I ride my bicycle, and most of the time," explains Shepherd. "It's not a problem most days, but if it gets to being kind of cold but also there's all of that construction over by where i work so that's a little bit of a hassle," he adds.
But a Joplin based organization is trying to remove this barrier for hard working people in the community by providing them with free cars or bicycles.
"Wheels for Workers was a program that was in the community for at least 5 years," says Pastor Daniel Wermuth of the Joplin Family Worship Center. "Economic Security Corporation was doing wheels for workers as a program and had a lot of great success," he adds.
Because of budget and administrative concerns, the service was put on hold for a few years. Then Joplin Family Worship Center leaders took over the program, and reinstated it shortly after the 2011 tornado under the name "Back to Work."
"We wanted to help people move forward," said Wermuth. "So their financial commitment is that they will keep it insured. These vehicles that are being given to them at this point in this program do not require repayment."
Since last fall more than ten families have gotten cars. It's something organizers say has become a vehicle for change in participants lives.
"Now a mom can pick up her kids after school and take them home in her own vehicle, as well as drive to work everyday or to go to the park on saturday," Wermuth explains. "It's an awesome experience to see a family moving forward economically."
Anyone living in Jasper County and surrounding areas is eligible for the program as long as they have an ID, proof of employment, and the ability to insure the vehicle. If interested you can call or visit the Joplin Family Worship Center to fill out an application. Or, you can get more details by emailing your request to Wheels4workers@gmail.com.
"I ride my bicycle, and most of the time," explains Shepherd. "It's not a problem most days, but if it gets to being kind of cold but also there's all of that construction over by where i work so that's a little bit of a hassle," he adds.
But a Joplin based organization is trying to remove this barrier for hard working people in the community by providing them with free cars or bicycles.
"Wheels for Workers was a program that was in the community for at least 5 years," says Pastor Daniel Wermuth of the Joplin Family Worship Center. "Economic Security Corporation was doing wheels for workers as a program and had a lot of great success," he adds.
Because of budget and administrative concerns, the service was put on hold for a few years. Then Joplin Family Worship Center leaders took over the program, and reinstated it shortly after the 2011 tornado under the name "Back to Work."
"We wanted to help people move forward," said Wermuth. "So their financial commitment is that they will keep it insured. These vehicles that are being given to them at this point in this program do not require repayment."
Since last fall more than ten families have gotten cars. It's something organizers say has become a vehicle for change in participants lives.
"Now a mom can pick up her kids after school and take them home in her own vehicle, as well as drive to work everyday or to go to the park on saturday," Wermuth explains. "It's an awesome experience to see a family moving forward economically."
Anyone living in Jasper County and surrounding areas is eligible for the program as long as they have an ID, proof of employment, and the ability to insure the vehicle. If interested you can call or visit the Joplin Family Worship Center to fill out an application. Or, you can get more details by emailing your request to Wheels4workers@gmail.com.
