VIDEO: Wheels to Work program changes lives in Wisconsin

WAUSAU, Wis. — Donna Brown wasn't sure she could do it. Her car was irreparable, her personal budget was a self-described mess and she just didn't know whether she could handle any more curve balls that the pitching machine called life would hurl her way.

Dan Newman, meanwhile, was skeptical. Surely, all the talk about selling him a reliable car at a reasonable price, while providing a no-interest loan, was nothing but a scam. What kind of fees would they tack on? Or other charges? If it sounds too good to be true, the saying goes, it always is.

Boy, were they mistaken.

Today, Ms. Brown and Mr. Newman are two of the 200-plus success stories from the Wheels to Work program, an initiative that allows less fortunate people in Wisconsin's Marathon County to purchase a vehicle or repair an existing one, with a no-interest loan, so that they can get back and forth to work. The vehicles are donated by auto service customers from around the region who are unwilling to pay for a repair that might be higher than what the vehicle is worth.

If a service shop determines the vehicle can be fixed, it is sent for repair either to an area automotive service shop, Northcentral Technical College (NTC) or Wausau East High School's automotive shop. Once the vehicle is repaired and deemed safe for the road — Wheels to Work receives labor and parts at a significant discount — it then is awarded to a client who has completed the program's requirements successfully.

Wheels to Work, now in its sixth year, was the brainchild of Kent Olson, owner of Olson Tire Pros & Auto Service Inc., located in downtown Wausau.

Wheels to Work is operated under the Wisconsin Automotive Truck Education Association (WATEA), a nonprofit co-founded by Mr. Olson and a group of individuals and businesses with strong ties to the automotive, truck and transportation industry. WATEA's mission is to develop awareness of career paths and opportunities available in the transportation industry.

It is because of his work with WATEA and Wheels to Work, along with countless other charitable endeavors, that Mr. Olson was named this year's Tire Business Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award winner. The prestigious award is presented annually to an independent tire dealer or retreader who, during the past year, has made significant contributions to the betterment of his or her community through charitable and/or public service work.

Ms. Brown needed a vehicle desperately. The one she had was beyond repair, and she didn't have the money "to keep fixing it over and over." She needed transportation to attend training in order for her to start her new job in the fast-food service industry.

So she purchased a 2000 Dodge Caravan from Wheels to Work.

"I was able to go to the training and not have to worry about breaking down and all of that," Ms. Brown said. "It was a godsend, that's all I can say.

"This program has changed my life."

Mr. Newman has purchased two vehicles from the program. He totaled his first, a sedan, when he hit black ice and collided with a telephone pole. He got a Ford Windstar van the second time.

Clients have the option of picking topics that interest them for the other two classes. The options include how to save money in food preparation; rights of tenants and landlords; and how to save and build up savings.

The classes, which are free for anyone to attend, are held at NTC and are conducted during various days and times throughout the year.

"The classes were good and helpful," said Mr. Newman, who had to attend two sets of classes, each with different topics, since he used the program twice. "They were pretty entry level, of course, given the demographics they are serving. They should be. They offered a good selection of things."

He enjoyed the class on vehicle maintenance the best. "That is where I learned the most. I'm not a car person per se, and that one went through the basic of vehicle maintenance and how to avoid expensive repairs later."

Ms. Krause said sometimes a client will bristle about having to take a budgeting class. "I do have those naysayers who say, 'I don't need classes. I already know how to do my budget.'

"Typically when they come in for the final budget, I always ask them, 'How did classes go? What did you think?' And they're like, 'Oh my gosh, the classes are amazing. I thought I knew everything, but I still learned something.'

"Even the people who are sure they know everything and they can't be taught anything, (they) come out of it and say, 'Wow, I did learn something.'"

Ms. Brown was effusive in her praise of the budgeting course. "It's learning that the practice of cutting back to get what you need," she said. "Sometimes we have to sacrifice a little bit to get ahead, and that's exactly what I learned from this program. Sacrificing a little bit to make the long term better."

Once the client completes the classes, he or she is awarded the next vehicle to become available, be it a car or van.

The presentation of a vehicle can be emotional, both for the client and for Wheels to Work administrators.

"I shed tears of happiness, of humility and thankfulness," Ms. Brown said, her eyes welling with tears at the memory. "I was thankful that this program was out there and I didn't have to worry about how I was going to get around anymore and how I was going to make this job work. I didn't know if I'd be able to keep it without going through the training."

Ms. Krause said she derives satisfaction from her job.

"It feels great to be able to help people and to work with the people, just to see them accomplish so much while they're here," Ms. Krause said.

"It's nice that we're able to help people in that way, kind of get them back to feeling independent again," said Becky Zoromski, the executive director of WATEA, who handles much of the behind-the-scenes duties for the Wheels to Work program, such as ordering parts and arranging for the vehicles to be repaired.

"A lot of them are relying on the kindness of friends, family and co-workers to get them to places," she said. "I'm not much of a hugger, but they'll hug, and some of those days, it's nice."

The loans are structured to meet each client's needs and come in four amounts: $1,000, $1,200, $2,000 and $3,000. When they pick up their vehicle, clients must put down at least 10 percent. Payments are either $75, $100 or $150 per month, for a term no greater than 18 months. In addition, clients must pay $100 each month for insurance.

Ms. Brown said her payment is $75 per month.

Federal and state grants fund the program, as well as a host of donations, from groups such as the United Way, NTC, the University of Wisconsin extension in Marathon County, and two Wausau high schools (East and D.C. Everest); business such as Brickners Auto Group, NAPA Auto Parts and Fred Mueller Automotive; and, of course, from the tire dealership that helped start the program, Olson Tire Pros & Auto Service.

The program isn't without its challenges. Some clients never complete the necessary classes. Others complain about the time it takes between applying for and actually receiving a vehicle. Ms. Brown, for example, was approved for her vehicle in October of 2016, and she received her van in April of 2017.

Sometimes there can be a problem with the vehicles, which are all donated, most likely because their previous owner refused to pay for a costly repair. So sometimes the repaired vehicles break down.

In fact, both of Mr. Newman's vehicles broke down shortly after he received them. The fuel pump failed on his first vehicle, while transmission problems developed on the Windstar. When he got it back, it was leaking transmission fluid.

Despite the difficulties, Mr. Newman said Wheels to Work fixed all of the issues for free, and administrators treated him well.

"They were great about everything," he said. "They fixed it right away.... It's a good program with good people. I have faith in both of them."

Mr. Olson and the rest of the Wheels to Work personnel constantly are considering ways to improve and expand the program. For example, it used to take two weeks for repair work to be completed for a client. After some clients expressed concern about being without transportation for a week, the wait time for a repair was cut to a week.

And there is talk about making the program available to more areas.

But the program as it stands has made a significant difference in the lives of Ms. Brown and Mr. Newman.

"Life throws us curve balls all the time," Ms. Brown said. "It's just life. We need to get through them. I've had a lot of curve balls in my life recently, and through the positive help and inspiration of Laura (Krause), the encouragement to continue to change my budget and to work with this, and the classes that were offered, it helped."

Ms. Brown uses her van for the 45-minute commute to work each day.

"I'm so grateful for the program and for the people that work this program and for the people who came up with the program," she said. "They saw a need. Nothing is ever easy when it comes to things like this, but I give them all the praise in the world."

She said she appreciates those who donate their vehicles as well as the shops that repair them. "They work together as a team," she said, "and that is what makes this program work."

and expand the program. For example, it used to take two weeks for repair work to be completed for a client. After some clients expressed concern about being without transportation for a week, the wait time for a repair was cut to a week.

And there is talk about making the program available to more surrounding counties.

But the program as it stands has made a significant difference in the lives of Ms. Brown and Mr. Newman.

"Life throws us curve balls all the time," Ms. Brown said. "It's just life. We need to get through them. I've had a lot of curve balls in my life recently, and through the positive help and inspiration of Laura (Krause), the encouragement to continue to change my budget and to work with this, and the classes that were offered, it helped."

Ms. Brown uses her van for the 45-minute commute to work each day.

"I'm so grateful for the program and for the people that work this program and for the people who came up with the program," she said. "They saw a need. Nothing is ever easy when it comes to things like this, but I give them all the praise in the world."

She appreciates those who donate their vehicles, too. "Without those people, there wouldn't be the vehicles. And I'm grateful for the companies that are working on these vehicles to fix. It's just wonderful. They work together as a team, and that is what makes this program work."