This story first appeared in the Fall 2023 edition of our “Peas & Carrots” newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here.
Oak Motors has been a long–time supporter of Second Helpings and they’re sponsoring upcoming Culinary Job Training Class #160.
Over our 25-year history, Second Helpings has been so fortunate to receive support from all across our community – individuals, corporations, foundations, and more. We’re highlighting one of those long-time partners here. Oak Motors is a used car dealership with five locations in Indianapolis, Anderson and Muncie. Not only has Oak Motors provided Second Helpings generous contributions for nearly 20 years, but the family-owned company is also sponsoring an upcoming Culinary Job Training class to help provide durable skills to under-employed and unemployed adults in our community.
Supporting community members in this way is not new to Oak Motors. They’ve been helping people with less than perfect credit gain access to affordable and dependable transportation for over 35 years through in-house financing as a “Buy Here Pay Here” used car dealership. Their commitment to the community is exemplified in the contribution of more than $900,000 to a variety of organizations across central Indiana since 2012, including Second Helpings.
Tiger Okeley, Executive Board Member at Oak Motors, explains his business model, “Our focus is not solely on selling vehicles, but rather providing the opportunity for people to improve the quality of their life. If hard choices need to be made, we believe purchasing a car should be a practical decision that enhances the ability to take care of daily needs, like commuting to work, getting the kids to school, or transporting loved ones to the places they need to go; rather than ‘how good does the vehicle make me look?’ If we can do both, that makes it just that much better!”
Second Helpings’ mission to reduce the impact of food insecurity, while teaching adults ready for a career change, combines well with Oak Motors’ dedication to providing affordable and reliable transportation regardless of past credit history. This powerful duo surely helps empower more people to get back in the driver’s seats of their lives.
“Supporting Second Helpings is important to our company. We are inspired by their devotion to helping people improve their circumstances, so our shared purpose resonates and keeps us committed to our partnership,” Okeley shared.
In the end, our partnership with Oak Motors is an empowering example for other businesses to recognize their ability to make a lasting difference – by prioritizing the progress of the communities in which they live and work.