She Quit Her Job at 38 to Learn Auto Repair—Now Her Nonprofit Garage Is Changing Lives
One woman’s bold move turned car repairs into hope for struggling communities
Key Takeaways
- A single car repair can lead to job loss and housing instability for many.
- Cathy Heying enrolled in tech school at 38 with zero prior auto experience.
- The Lift Garage charges zero markup on parts and deeply discounted labor.
When Cathy Heying realized that a single auto repair could make or break someone’s life, she opened a nonprofit garage to keep folks behind the wheel. Here, she shares her story with Woman’s World.
Working as a social worker in the early 2000s, Cathy Heying started to see a pattern play out in the communities she served. One unexpected car problem could set off a domino effect, threatening someone’s job, health and even their housing. For some, car trouble meant losing all stability.
A lack of reliable transportation and poverty are deeply intertwined, she realized. When you’re struggling to make ends meet, a car repair doesn’t just stretch your budget — it can derail your life.
Cathy often found herself thinking that someone should do something about the lack of affordable car repairs. Then one day, it hit her—maybe that someone was her.
In 2008, she quit her full-time job and enrolled in automotive school at the age of 38. She had no experience working with cars, but she had plenty of resolve. If the community needed a garage that made repairs accessible to people in need, she was determined to learn.
It wasn’t an easy road, but in 2010, Cathy graduated with a degree in Automotive Service Technology. Over the next few years, she rolled up her sleeves, gaining experience and learning how to start a nonprofit.
By 2013, her vision became a reality: Cathy officially opened The Lift Garage, a nonprofit auto repair shop that provides low-cost services for low-income Minnesotans.
The Lift operates with grants and donations covering the bulk of each customer’s repair costs. The approach is simple: Cathy sells parts with no markup and charges a fraction of the going rate for labor.
As word spread, the garage quickly outgrew its original space. By 2018, The Lift Garage had moved into a new five-bay facility, and in 2020, it expanded again with an addition to the building.
Today, the organization employs 16 people — many of whom have firsthand experience with poverty or homelessness—who provide affordable repairs and offer free pre-purchase car inspections and honest advice.
For customers, finding The Lift is often a moment of profound relief. Cathy recalls one man who had been living in his car, and after repairs, he was able to regain stability.
For Cathy, stories like these are a reminder that her work is about more than cars.
“We’re stronger together,” she says. “No one has to do everything, but everyone can do something. I’m grateful to use my skills to do my part!”
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