Awesome - Woman Who Gets Her Car Fixed Pays The Mechanic Back With Surprising Stunt
Imagine this: you're rushing to get your whole family ready for the day. By the skin of your teeth, you manage to get everyone in the car on time. You get ten feet out of your driveway — and then your car makes that sound. For some people, this scenario would simply mean running late, an inconvenience at worst. So when Candice Berry's ran into some unexpected problems, she didn't ever anticipate her car troubles to forever change the way she saw the world.
Super Mom
Every day, single mom Candice Berry drove her son Jace to school in their hometown of Mustang, Oklahoma, before heading off to work. These car rides gave the duo a chance to catch up, but one ride didn't go quite as planned.
Vehicle Problems
To make the ride possible, she bought a new truck in early 2019, but it quickly started giving her trouble. “The brakes need to be changed as well as the purge valve. And then also my speedometer is off,” she said in February.
Forced Her Hand
Of course, it was completely unsafe to drive her son around without proper brakes, and she could easily rack up tickets without a working speedometer. There was only one solution: find a mechanic.
High Prices
Unfortunately, every shop that Candice called was charging her much more than she could afford at the time. She realized she had to start saving up, but she had no other means of transportation and didn't know how to get Jace to school in the meantime.
Finding Adam
So, in a desperate attempt to find a cheaper rate, she called one more auto-repair shop: Hard Luck Automotive Services. This time, she spoke to a man named Adam Ely, who had been running the shop for several decades. As it turned out, he knew exactly what to do.
His Assessment
After hearing all about Candice's car trouble, he assessed what new parts she needed and how he'd have to replace them. But when she asked him how much it would cost, Adam gave her a shocking price that didn't make sense to her at all.
So Cheap
At first, she thought it was a mistake, but then he went on to explain: he was only charging her for the parts, not for the labor! Candice couldn't believe what she was hearing! Why would a stranger help her out like this? And how could he afford to work for free?
Juicy Offer
Not only did he promise to fix the truck for free, but he also offered to do it as soon as possible. Candice recalled, “In a second, he said, ‘Yeah, you want to meet now? You wanna meet next week?’ Very quick – and I needed that because I needed my brakes.”
Free Labor
As a matter of fact, Candice wasn't the first person to benefit from Adam's kindness; she was one of the hundreds whom he helped like this. “We offer our services free to those in need,” his garage’s website stated. “If you are able to buy the parts, if we can fix it, we will. For free labor.” But how was this possible?
Military Background
The plan all started when he got out of the military, where he'd worked as a mechanic. Feeling lost back on the homeland, he longed to use his skills for a good purpose: helping people. It gave him — and those he worked with — a ton of joy.
Local Links
Moreover, the local auto parts stores often gave him a break on their side of the deal. In fact, some salesmen even used their employee discounts to make the parts cheaper for Adam, leaving the final bill smaller than anywhere else.
So Blessed
All the positive attention helped Adam's cause. “My wife and I do this because we can,” he wrote on his website. “It doesn’t cost us anything but our time. We have been blessed and have met some of the best people since starting Hard Luck Auto Services.”
Merchandising
So, if he wasn't charging anybody for labor, how did he make end's meet? Well, most of his income came from the Veteran Association due to his lasting knee injuries. When his family needed a little extra cash, his wife sold T-shirts with their very own logo!
Kids in Need
When he wasn't getting greasy under the hood of a car, Adam attended college classes to study special education for children with disabilities. He didn't have any kids with disabilities himself though — all he wanted was to help others.
Never Turned Anyone Away
That said, there was only so much Ely could do with such a busy schedule and a limited budget. Still, “I’ve never turned anyone away,” he said. “I don't care about economic status, race or creed. I don’t even care if people take advantage; I will help them." So, finally, it was time for someone to help him.
Candice's Surprise
Candice was absolutely thrilled that he was coming to her house to fix her car, so she cooked up a little plan that would ensure he would leave her garage just as happy as she was. A few phone calls later, Adam walked into the shock of a lifetime.
Film Crew
As soon as he set foot in Candice's garage, Adam was met by the local news station's film crew, as well as some representatives of the organization Pay It Forward. While the latter presented him with a $400 check, Candice explained she nominated him as a local hero.
Jace Gets Involved
It was true: Adam inspired many, including Candice's son Jace. “I want to do the same thing as Adam because I just want to make the world a better place like he does,” the boy said. He even asked if he could assist Adam, who appreciated all the kind words.
Lingering PTSD
See, Adam was called a hero before, due to his time in the military, but that experience only left him with severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. It wasn't until he got busy helping people and studying that his nightmares began to fade, and this surprise confirmed he was doing the right thing.
Big Smiles
Seeing a smile on her rescuer's face made Candice happy, too. “I’m grateful to be able to give this to him," she said. "I can’t think of a better person who takes time away from his family from things he could be doing for himself for strangers. I’m just so grateful.”
Going Viral
Before she knew it, Candice's truck was fixed, so she could drive her son to school again. And with the story going viral, donations from fellow veterans, locals, and car-fanatics have been rolling in to make life and work easier for Adam. Their bond really resonated with people who had also been saved by Good Samaritans — but never got the chance to thank them.
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