She prayed for a scooter. Thanks to a North Texas couple, she got a car

When Ashley Thomas, a young mother with a 1-year-old son named Justin showed up at Auto Experts of Colleyville on Thursday, Nov. 13 — World Kindness Day, by the way — she thought she was arriving for an interview and a chance to receive a free car.

Tears began to flow when Cathy Bailey, who owns Auto Experts with her husband Dane, handed Ashley the keys to a restored 2013 Toyota Prius, looking as new as it once did on the showroom floor. She was the latest recipient in the Autos of Love nonprofit program that provides refurbished cars to people in need of transportation but without the means to purchase one.

“It’s really been a struggle with no transportation,” Ashley said between the tears. “I walk everywhere I can, and when I can afford it I take Uber, but it’s been so hard.

“I’ve been praying for some miracle. I’ve been praying for a scooter — and I got this! I’m so happy and so grateful.”

Ashley, who lives in Euless, is studying to be a nurse and attending classes at Tarrant County College.

How Autos of Love got its start

The Baileys got the idea for Autos of Love after visiting with some friends in the automobile industry in California. After learning of the success their friends on the West Coast were having, they decided why not bring that idea back home?

“They have been giving away cars for about 10 years now through their initiative ‘Wheels to Shine,’” Dane said of their friends. “Cathy and I immediately thought this was a great concept and asked ourselves, ‘Why couldn’t we do something similar?’”

Then, when General Manager Jerry Maxey joined Auto Experts they were able to get the ball rolling. He had done a similar car giveaway at his previous employer and knew how to turn an idea into reality.

That’s when Autos of Love was born late last year.

“It shows that we care, that we do everything with a servant’s heart,” Maxey said. “They’re going through hardship. This isn’t a handout, it’s a hand up.”

In 2024, Dane learned of a client with an older vehicle that had reached the end of its usefulness. Maxwell approached them with the thought of donating the car to someone who could put it to better use.

“Shortly thereafter, we had a second client in the same situation. Jerry made the pitch, and both clients said yes,” Dane said.

First donation in 2024

Cathy began reaching out to local nonprofit organizations, as well as churches and synagogues, for potential recipients. It was then they realized they needed a name for this new outreach initiative.

After several brainstorming sessions between the two of them, along with searching for an available domain, they created Autos of Love. Then, they implemented their friends’ idea for a selection committee of community leaders.

The first donation was made in October 2024.

The cars they have received so far have been donated by existing clients who have decided that they no longer want to invest money in their vehicles.

“All of the cars reached a point where they needed fairly extensive repairs with a sizable price tag,” Dane said.

The first donor car was a 2004 Lexus ES 330 with over 300,000 miles. They replaced the faulty alternator and battery, fixed the oil leaks, and performed all necessary fluid services.

The second car was a 2007 Lexus LS 460 with 160,000 miles. They repaired all the coolant and oil leaks and performed all necessary fluid services.

‘Laundry Car’ back in shape

Mike Blumberg was the donor of this year’s vehicle. If it looks familiar to folks, that’s because it’s been traveling around town quite a bit for several years, accumulating over 230,000 miles.

“It’s the Laundry Car,” Blumberg said with a chuckle. “I own a laundry business, and we originally used it as a pickup and delivery vehicle. That’s what we all called it, the Laundry Car.

“I can’t believe how brand new it looks. I’m so happy it’s going to someone who needs a car — and what a wonderful person she is.”

Auto Experts replaced the engine and performed all necessary maintenance items to bring it back into shape.

Partners now sharing in the effort

In 2024, Auto Experts underwrote the entire cost of everything for Autos of Love — from vehicle refurbishment to marketing, catering, event hosting for the giveaway, and even photo/video production. They now have partners who want to share in this effort. For example, Worldpac and Dallas JDM provided parts, the Auto Experts technician staff donated their time for the repairs, and Loveria Caffe donated food and catering.

In addition to clients who donated their cars, others have made cash donations.

“What began as just a way for us to give back to the community has already started to expand,” Dane said.

Auto Experts covers the cost of transferring the title to the recipient. And they provide free maintenance on the vehicle for the first year.

All that is required of the recipient is to be a resident of Tarrant County, have a valid Texas driver’s license, maintain insurance on the vehicle, and put it to use every day.

“Our intent with Autos of Love is to make a gift to someone who will put it to the greatest good,” Cathy said.

Following the success of the first giveaway in 2024, Cathy said the goal and challenge to the team and community was to make the event an annual occurrence — perhaps even more often if possible.

“We’re only limited by the number of donor vehicles we receive,” Cathy said.

For potential donors, she said it’s important to remember that Autos of Love is a Tarrant County initiative for residents of the county. Any gift to Autos of Love stays local.

Cathy added that the next giveaway is already in the planning stages. It will be in October 2026.