At Christian Brothers Automotive, kindness runs as deep as the motor oil in the shop bays. For owner Chris Longo, service is more than fixing cars, it’s about restoring hope. “We’re obviously a business like any other,” Longo says, “but we’re very aware that we have a mission... to support people in our community, to meet them where they are, and to use the gifts we’ve been blessed with to serve others.”
Each October, that mission takes center stage during the company’s National Day of Service, when shops across the country open their doors, not for profit, but for people in need. “We’re normally closed on weekends,” Longo explains. “But on that Saturday, our entire staff volunteers their time. We open the shop, invite families in, and do free repairs all day long.”
This year, Longo’s team served nearly 80 families, providing close to $60,000 in free repairs in just six hours. “Every car gets an oil change and safety inspection,” he says. “If we find anything unsafe — brakes, tires, suspension, we fix it at no cost. Our vendors even pitch in with parts and supplies.”
The shop transforms into something more like a neighborhood block party than a repair bay. “We’ve got food, drinks, a bounce house for the kids, giveaways, prayer sessions, even care packages for people living in their cars,” Longo says. “It’s humbling to see how much it means to folks.”
But the experience impacts the staff just as deeply. “There’s a lot of emotion that day,” he says. “You’ll see grown men in the back of the shop crying because of the difference they’ve made. It reminds us why we’re here.”
Longo describes hearing stories from widows, single parents, and families who’ve lost jobs or homes. “Auto repair can be a barrier,” he explains. “If you can’t afford it, things get worse. Your car becomes unsafe or undrivable. For many people, transportation is survival... it’s how they get to work, take kids to school, or find a fresh start.”
That sense of compassion extends beyond one day a year. Longo’s shop frequently donates cars, often vehicles gifted by customers who no longer need them. “We’ll repair them, donate the parts, and our technicians volunteer their time,” he says. “Then we work with local churches and community groups to find someone who truly needs it.” The team even prays together before deciding which recipient to bless with a vehicle. “Once we give the car away, we maintain it for a year. The goal is simple: we don’t want them worrying about transportation while they get back on their feet.”
One of Longo’s favorite memories involves a young mother who had her first child as a teenager. “She’d been taking the bus for two years to get to work,” he recalls. “She was working two jobs and doing everything she could to provide for her son. We gave her a minivan, and she said, ‘Now I can take him to the park. I can bring his bike. We can do normal things again.’ Something so small to us completely changed her life.”
It’s moments like these that keep Longo grounded. “We’re humbled that we even have the opportunity to do this,” he says. “We don’t do it for recognition or publicity, we do it because it’s the right thing. If someone reads this and thinks, ‘Maybe there’s a way I can give back, too,’ then that’s what matters.”
Through their actions, Longo and his team show that faith and service are not separate from business, they’re at the heart of it. “Everyone who walks through our doors is carrying something we can’t see,” he reflects. “If we can meet them with kindness, listen to their story, and help in any way we can, even if it’s just fixing a car, then we’ve done what we’re called to do.”
For Christian Brothers Automotive, compassion is the ultimate tune-up, one that keeps the community running strong.