This past October, Christian Brothers Automotive celebrated its 14th-annual National Service Day to help those in need in the community. All Christian Brother Automotive franchise owners participate in this initiative as a way to honor the organization’s core mission: to love your neighbor as yourself.
This is something Christian Brother Automotive - Aubrey owners John Norman and his wife, Gillian, hold near to their hearts. When the couple opened the organization’s Aubrey location in 2018, they wanted all their customers to have peace of mind when driving their vehicles off their lot. The National Day of Service allows them to help those who normally wouldn’t be able to have an inspection done on their vehicles.
“This is our ministry. Our business—auto repair—is just the funding mechanism that allows us to do good things for those in our community who need a helping hand,” John said.
The National Day of Service is held during the second Saturday in October. While the main service is a free oil change, the technicians at Christian Brothers Automotive in Aubrey provide diagnostic checks inspection on a vehicle's safety systems. Should technicians identify a safety-related issue during the inspection, they do what they can to complete the service for free.
John said this has allowed his team to see first-hand how giving back changes lives.
“This opportunity shows them the needy people in our community and offers them a way to serve by only giving their time and talent,” John said. “My team’s eyes have been opened to being more servant minded by seeing the needs in our community.”
John personally has been overcome by how this day of service has impacted lives. He recalled speaking with a woman whose first language was Spanish — she didn’t believe him when he told her the repairs on her car were free.
“She kept telling me, ‘No, thank you’ when I told her that we replaced her brake pads, rotors and fixed her AC so that she and her kids no longer had to endure the Texas summers without AC,” he said. “When she finally understood … she broke down in tears, telling me, ‘I don’t understand, no one has ever done something like this for me before.’ Those words still echo in my head.
“... I now no longer tell customers what we do for them. I let my team present the good news to them so they can experience the gift of giving.”
The Normans work with a local nonprofit to identify those who need aid for the service day. For the last couple of years, they have worked with the Loreto House, a pregnancy and parenting resource center. The organization helps young families and those facing an unexpected pregnancy by providing them with services and resources.
Not only do the Normans hope that the company’s National Day of Service inspires others to pay it forward, but for people to see how small acts of kindness can make a difference.
“I want this day to help these customers feel that there are people in this world who care about them and value them as human beings,” John said. “I want our employees to carry with them the joy and thanksgiving for the blessings that have been bestowed on them.”
The event prompted the Normans to give back to the community in different ways. Christian Brothers Automotive - Aubrey also conducts a planning service project at the organization’s annual convention, provides lunch-and-learn opportunities at community meetings that discuss car maintenance and maintenance schedules, and gives car care clinics for students to learn basic car services.
Residents are invited to learn more about these projects by visiting www.cbac.com/Aubrey.
“This is our ministry. Our business—auto repair—is just the funding mechanism."