‘An amazing blessing’: NC nonprofits help mother of 3 drive toward better future

GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — A Greensboro mother of three will have a smooth ride to school and work for her and her kids going forward, thanks to two local non-profits that helped her get an affordable set of wheels.

Nyaria Alston said she’s grateful to GenerationEd and Wheels4Hope for helping her on her path forward. As a single mother of three, she has faced numerous hardships, including legal issues, but she’s used her challenges as a push in the right direction.

“I used to be like, ‘Oh, that could never be me. That’s going to be them. That’s not going to happen to me.’ … I work hard, but it smacked me in the face, not having a car, having three children,” Alston said.

Alston said serving a short time in jail for a mistake she owns helped her decide on a clear future, putting her kids first.

But not having a car was a setback to her newfound purpose. She and her children were riding the school and city bus to get to school and work, and it was taxing with three kids at two schools and her own work as a server.

“I had to get up at 5:30 every day, get everyone dressed. We had to make sure we got on that seven o’clock bus … Everyone could be at school by 8:30 … Sometimes, in order for them to get here on time, if we woke up late, I had to take a Lyft,” Alston said.

Advocates at GenerationEd Headstart Childcare, where two of Alston’s kids go, nominated her for a car from Wheels4Hope. The nonprofit sells refurbished cars to people for $500 plus the $150 registration fee. Purchasers also have to meet insurance requirements.

Maura Rodriguez is a Family Advocate at GenerationEd’s Headstart center.

“The first moment I met her, which was last year, she had this determination and this drive to just be great, not only for herself but for her children. And when her situation came to light and she brought it to my desk, I knew I had to help her,” Rodriguez said.

GenerationEd is a referral partner to Wheels4Hope, where people must have a partner nonprofit recommendation to qualify for a refurbished car.

Adrienne Singleton is the Triad hub manager at Wheels4Hope. She said the car went to a partner shop to make sure it was up to par and perfectly safe for the family to use.

“There’s a lot of moving parts to make sure that that day goes off without a hitch, but it’s just a really good feeling that you know that you’re going to change someone’s life,” Singleton said.

And after working long hours, overtime and even selling off items to save up, Alston met the purchase and insurance requirements and put the keys in the ignition.

“I was the happiest person, seeing that car, getting those keys in my hand. I tried my best not to cry, but I did cry because … no one understands how good and such a relief it feels when you put your heart into something. You put your soul into it. You work for it, and for other people to notice it and see you and help you along the way is amazing feeling, and so it’s really just a humbling experience and very much just an amazing blessing,” Alston said.

Alston said the main perk is that having a car will make her kids’ lives easier. She says being able to get them where they need to go safely and quickly gives her peace of mind and gives them stability.

“We don’t have to rush, and we don’t have to run up the hill to get on the bus. It was truly a blessing … That was the best part for me,” Alston said

Rodriguez said it’s an honor to help a success like this one happen.

“It makes you realize that the work that you do really does matter … Having a parent who is willing and who is able to go to great lengths to do what they need to do for their family and for themselves. It just makes your heart warm inside and makes you feel amazing that you even had a part in their journey at all,” Rodriguez said.

Wheels4Hope said they are thrilled Alston is able to take this car down her new path, and they look forward to serving more references they get from partner programs. They are also always accepting car donations to help make these connections possible.