On the early morning of September 24th, while driving into work, my coworker, Amanda C., pulled over due to her car suddenly overheating. Clearly needing to go to a mechanic, she called her car insurance for roadside assistance as she had just had work done on the car. The company the insurance sent out improperly towed her vehicle, causing significant further damage. By the time the mechanic recommended by the insurance company had assessed Amanda’s car, it was declared a total loss with all the payout going to the remaining loan balance.

I have known Amanda to be hardworking and diligent but the loss of her vehicle is just one of several curveballs she has recently been pitched. On top of being the primary caregiver for her elderly and ailing mother, Amanda has been dealing with the emotional and financial challenges of navigating single life after her long term and live in boyfriend moved out while she was at work. With the totalling of her car, Amanda does not have a vehicle to get to work, to the store, or to take her mother to medical appointments.

If you live in Knoxville or anywhere in East Tennessee, you know it's impossible to function without access to a vehicle for many daily tasks. Amanda is now facing this hard reality and just needs a hand to start over with a new vehicle. All donations go straight to the purchase or down payment of a vehicle so that Amanda can once again help support not only herself but her mother.