Moms on the Move

Three communities in three states fill the transportation gap and help keep abortion-vulnerable women on the road. 

In May, Her PLAN hosted three car maintenance days in communities across the country: Barrow County, Georgia; South Wake, North Carolina; and Leesburg, Virginia. Car maintenance days are community events that combine free or discounted car care and oil changes, with additional resources to support abortion-vulnerable moms and their families, such as financial literacy programs, educational resources, and ministry groups.  

In most parts of America, a reliable car is a necessity for finding and holding down a job, getting groceries, seeing a doctor, going to church — the list goes on. Without a car, a vulnerable woman may be dependent on expensive Uber or Lyft rides to get to work, if those options are even available in her area.   

She may have a car, but it is unreliable. Frequent car issues lead to missed work or late arrivals, eventually even leading to job loss. She knows car maintenance is important, but if she can’t make ends meet, oil changes and repairs may be at the bottom of her financial priorities. Without a vehicle, abortion-vulnerable women are also more likely to feel isolated and be dependent on others for rides. When those same people suggest abortion, her sense of being a burden increases, and she may be more likely to resort to abortion. 

Car maintenance days are one way local communities are stepping up to fill the transportation gap. “So often we talk about big issues like housing and childcare that seem insurmountable and can be discouraging for community members to figure out how to help,” said Georgia Community Development Coordinator Eva Dalke. “Transportation is a gap where solutions feel a lot more tangible and there are a lot of creative ways to fill difference aspects of the gap.” Across three states, communities came together with Her PLAN to creatively fill the transportation gap and address the specific needs faced by abortion-vulnerable women in their neighborhoods. 

Georgia

Inspired by conversations around the transportation gap at Her PLAN’s Leaders’ Dinner, Bethlehem Church volunteered to host a community car maintenance day in Barrow County.  

Joseph Brown, Community and Global Missions Pastor at Bethlehem Church, worked with Akins Ford, the largest Ford Dealership in Georgia, to hire ten mechanics for the day. Each mechanic arrived at the church campus with a fully stocked mobile repair van and provided oil changes and tire rotations to each car. Mechanics also inspected the cars and provided moms with a list of additional maintenance needed, which they could schedule to have done at Akins Ford at a later date.  

Attendees were referred to the event by local providers, including pregnancy centers and ministries that serve single moms in and around Barrow. In total, 36 families received car care. 

While mechanics serviced cars, volunteers from Bethlehem Church served the families. Each mom was paired with a woman from the church who engaged in intentional conversation and prayer throughout the day. Other members of Bethlehem Church dropped off hot meals and casseroles for moms to bring home to their families, and volunteers provided childcare. Bouncy houses were also available for the kids. Georgia Community Development Coordinator Eva Dalke gifted flowers and baked goods to each mom as an early celebration of Mothers’ Day. Locally owned Switchback Coffee hosted a coffee cart and offered each mom a free specialty latte.  

Bethlehem Church hopes to expand the event to be hosted four times a year, multiplying the number of families served in Barrow County and helping to close the transportation gap for abortion-vulnerable women. What started as a conversation around need and lead to a car maintenance day in Barrow County has grown into a full-scale community effort to fill the transportation gap. As a next step, the coalition has begun fundraising efforts to launch a transportation fund to cover emergency repairs for women served by local providers.

North Carolina 

In Her Community South Wake, Her PLAN partnered with Christian Brothers Automotive to host a Road to Success Car Care Day for moms to receive free oil changes. In addition to the oil change, mechanics inspected each car and moms were referred to receive needed maintenance from Christian Brothers Automotive at a later date. 

Fifteen families received car care. Local providers including Caring Connections Ministry, a mentoring program for vulnerable women in the greater Raleigh area, referred attendees to the event.  

Christian Brothers Automotive owners Kenny and Angela Kase opened the shop on a Saturday to serve abortion-vulnerable moms and ensure families have safe, reliable transportation. Throughout the day, Kenny taught their twin sons how to replace filters, change tires, and the importance of living out the Christian call to serve others. 

While cars were inspected, moms received resources from local providers and ministries serving abortion-vulnerable women. A local church provided children’s activities. Her PLAN’s first car maintenance day in North Carolina is only the beginning of filling the transportation gap in the Tar Heel State. 

Virginia 

Her Community Leesburg hosted “Road to Success Transportation Day” at Leesburg Community Church to provide oil changes, inspections, and education to abortion-vulnerable women. Her Community Leesburg hosted its first car maintenance day in 2025 with this second event geared more towards education.  

Undisputed Auto Care inspected each car and ten provided families with a list of recommended and critical maintenance needed and referrals to receive quality service at a later date. Valvoline Instant Oil Change provided oil change coupons for each car with costs covered by Gabriel Project of the Diocese of Arlington. In total, ten families received car care having been referred by local organizations including Agape Pregnancy Center, Gabriel Project, Good Shepherd, and Tree of Life Ministries.  

Volunteers from partner organizations provided childcare and breakfast for families. Local churches donated items such as clothes and children’s items for families to take as needed. While cars were serviced, moms received education on the process to purchase a car, including preparing to visit the DMV, car loans, financial education, and preventative car maintenance to keep cars from needing expensive emergency maintenance. 

“Closing the transportation gap is more than just receiving car maintenance. It is education. It is empowerment. Now these moms feel more equipped to handle their finances and advocate for themselves with car loans, which is important for abortion-vulnerable moms,” said Virginia Community Development Coordinator Daniela Simmons. 

Her Community Leesburg hopes to expand the car maintenance day to be a recurring quarterly event, multiplying the number of families served and increasing efforts to close the transportation gap. 

Has reading about the work of communities stepping up to fill the transportation gap inspired you? You can help! Donate to local transportation funds in these communities and check out our Pathways model for hosting a car maintenance day.