Single mother of three receives free minivan from repair shop

SUNSET HILLS, Mo. – A single mother of three received a much-needed surprise Friday afternoon: a minivan.

Penny Finnie was all smiles after getting the gift of transportation for herself and her family. Her name was passed along to an owner of a Midas Auto Repair, who put the gears in motion to give her a refurbished Toyota minivan.

“We are donating a vehicle through the Midas program and through our Sparks program, where we find a car through 1,800 charities, and then a local church group reaches out to us,” owner Darren McMahan said. “We find a good recipient for that vehicle. NAPA donates the parts, and my crew fixed it up like brand new.”

Finnie says she has had to rely on transportation services and extended family to get her three children, two with special needs, to doctor appointments.

“Medical transportation–you have to do it three days ahead,” she said. “Sometimes that’s iffy. People’s schedules get busy, emergencies come up, and I’m stuck not making it to my kid’s appointments or my appointments.”

The biggest, instant change once driving this minivan off the lot?

Being able to go to the grocery store.

In Greek mythology, it was King Midas who had the golden touch. But it’s this Midas location off Watson Road in Sunset Hills, that is turning a gifted set of wheels into a world of opportunity for this family.

“Anytime you can reach out and help anybody in your community it just makes the community stronger,” McMahan said. “We just think it’s our part.  It’s what we’re supposed to do.  If we can do it, we should, and everyone should.”

Finnie added, “I’m so grateful to Darren and to Midas and grateful to them, and I thank them for everything they’re doing forever.”

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