About Hands of The Carpenter

Hands of The Carpenter (Hands) is a faith-based nonprofit community that uniquely serves single women in need by addressing the often overlooked issue of transportation. Hands provides automobile placement, repair and maintenance in an effort to relieve the enormous financial burden and related distress that automobile repair puts on this population and their opportunity for economic self-sufficiency.

OUR MISSION
Hands offers hope to single women with dependent children, while providing automobile services, partnering in their efforts to remain employed and to strive toward economic self-sufficiency.

OUR VALUES
Service with Passion and Humility
Purposeful stewardship of resources (time, finances, in-kind gifts, partnerships)
Integrity, honesty and respect for all

Our Story

In April 2003 CEO/founder Dan Georgopulos, his wife Brenda, and key leaders established Hands of The Carpenter (Hands). After hearing stories of abuse, potential homelessness, death of a spouse, etc. – the types of events that cause women to be financially vulnerable – Dan decided to create Hands to provide assistance. The women they served spoke about their fear of losing jobs if they couldn’t get their children to school and themselves to work. The team learned that a focused effort on automotive services was needed. Hands was launched in order to provide timely services by qualified technicians for women needing safe and reliable transportation to achieve self-sufficiency and independence.

Significant progress has been made in both the numbers of repairs we are able to make each year and the efficiency in which we are able to make those repairs. Car donations are helping us make progress in two ways. One, we are able to sell some cars and use the funds to provide the necessary auto repairs. Two, we are able to fix up some of the cars and either give them to single moms to can’t afford a car or sell it to them at just 35% of the market value.

“My father died of polio, one month after my first birthday, so I have no memories of him. I do, however, have vivid memories of my mother trying to raise two kids as a single mom. I went to five different elementary schools in six years, because each time the rent went up, we moved. I spent high school years in a house trailer that gave the three of us less than 400 square feet of living space. And I remember my fury at unscrupulous salesmen who talked my mother into paying for unnecessary auto repairs, or buying cars with odometers that had obviously been tampered with. Once, she agreed to a complete engine replacement when she could have bought a used car for less money. My brother and I protested, but what do kids know compared to a slick salesman?

These memories have made me a loyal donor to Hands of The Carpenter. I know from personal experience what it means for single moms to have reliable transportation and, more, a place they can trust. Each time I hear about Hands helping a single mom repair or obtain a car, I think back to my childhood, wondering what difference it might have made for my own mother to receive a gift like that. God bless you in your important work.”

Philip Yancey

Author, Hands Supporter

Hands' Good Neighbor Garage Program Components

Hands delivers services through our Good Neighbor Garage (GNG) Program, which focuses on providing vehicle-related services for low/fixed income single mothers and women in need to prevent or solve vehicle crisis issues.

Vehicle Placement

Good Neighbor Garage places reliable, donated cars with women who are working or are in school/job training, whose current vehicles cannot be repaired or don’t have a car.

Vehicle Repair

Work is performed by ASE Certified mechanics at our Good Neighbor Garage facility, or by one of our partner repair facilities to address issues causing unreliability and frustration.

Vehicle Maintenance

The program conducts a multi-point vehicle safety check and oil changes for up to two years for our Good Neighbor Garage clients.

Ongoing Vehicle Education

Throughout all of our vehicle programs, women are empowered with valuable information to learn how to take care of their cars and prevent vehicle crisis.

Get Involved Today!

When women’s cars are broken, we fix them. When they’re beyond repair or the women don’t own one, we find cars for them. Hands is the only organization in the area consistently and comprehensively offering these services. Through financial gifts and active involvement, the Hands community of Champions (staff, volunteers, and engaged organizational and individual contributors) enables women’s initial car issues to be addressed and for their vehicles to be maintained and repaired for up to two years.