01/22/2026
High schoolers are learning more than just how engines work — they’re changing lives.
At Louisa County High School in rural Virginia, students in an automotive tech class are doing more than just learning brake systems and oil changes. They're restoring donated cars and giving them away — free of charge — to single mothers in need of reliable transportation.
The program is a partnership with Giving Words, a local nonprofit founded by two former single parents. Their goal: to support mothers at risk of losing jobs, healthcare, or child care because of unreliable vehicles. Since launching, they’ve donated more than 60 cars — half of them repaired by high school students.
Each car gets months of work. Up to 20 students might contribute, doing everything from battery tests and tire replacements to heating and cooling repairs. Once finished, the vehicle passes a full safety inspection — and then, the keys are handed over in person.
Jessica Rader, a mother of three, was one recipient. After overcoming addiction and living in transitional housing, she received a fully refurbished Prius in 2023. With it, she got a full-time job, went back to school, and regained her independence.
“Kids who never met me cared enough to make sure my kids and I were safe,” she said. “It changed everything.”
What started as a classroom has become something bigger: a place where students learn empathy alongside engineering — and where second chances come with a full tank of gas.
Learn more:
"High school students fix up cars, then hand the keys to single mothers." The Washington Post, 2026.
📸Credit: Andrew Woolfolk/Louisa County Public Schools
