Driving Hope: How Lifted Spirits Garage is Changing Lives This Christmas

Mark White | The Mark White Show

Muscle Shoals, Alabama - This Christmas season, generosity is on full display in North Alabama, where Lifted Spirits Garage and T and A Automotive are once again joining forces for their annual Christmas Car Giveaway. It’s an effort that provides reliable transportation to people who put others first. But this year there’s something new, a twist that’s doubling the impact. Through a special partnership with the Joel R. Anderson Family Foundation, every dollar donated will be matched up to $10,000. The result is more car giveaways, more free auto repairs, and more lives changed through the gift of mobility.

A Ministry Born from a Happy Accident

Owner Todd Wilson says this mission began unintentionally. “We had a customer who decided not to fix their car because it would cost more than it was worth,” he explained. “They asked if we knew anyone who could use it. We took it, fixed it up, and gave it to someone who needed a reliable vehicle. That first one was just a happy accident, and it’s grown from there.”

What started as a single act of kindness in 2023 has become a thriving community effort. That first year, they gave away six cars. By 2024, they had given away 13 or 14 vehicles through both Christmas and graduation giveaways. Each car represents a fresh start, often for someone facing tough circumstances. “We’ve helped lower-income families, elderly people, single parents, and even high school graduates who just needed that one step forward,” Todd said. “When we saw how life-changing it was, we knew we had to do more.”

The Gift of a Step Forward

For Todd, the most memorable stories come from the young people they’ve helped. “We gave away a Mustang last year to a young man who had lost almost his entire family. That car gave him the chance to work, go to school, and move forward,” he recalled.

He sees reliable transportation as a turning point in people’s lives. “We do a lot of work with homeless individuals, and so many of them are stuck. They can’t get a job without transportation, and they can’t get transportation without a job. Sometimes just one car that runs makes all the difference.”

The Double Challenge

That’s why the Joel R. Anderson Family Foundation partnership means so much. “They heard our story and wanted to help,” Todd said. “Their idea was to not only give but to engage the community. This matching challenge doubles our funding, which means twice as many repairs, parts, and vehicles for families in need.” Before this, Lifted Spirits and T and A Automotive were funding nearly everything themselves. “We bootstrapped it for two years,” Todd said. “Now, with the community’s help and the Foundation’s match, we can reach so many more people.”

How It Works

The nomination process is simple and open to anyone across North Alabama, southern Tennessee, and northeast Mississippi. Nominations can be submitted by email, Facebook message, or letter. The only requirement is that the nominee should be someone selfless, a person who gives more than they take. “We’re looking for people who go above and beyond to help others,” Todd said. “Maybe it’s someone walking to work every day, a student trying to better their life, or a single parent doing everything possible to support their family.” A five-person independent panel reviews all nominations and selects the recipients. Last year they received 85 nominations, and this year Todd hopes to double that.

The Reaction That Makes It All Worth It

Winners are never told ahead of time that they’ve been nominated. “We just call them when they’re chosen,” Todd said with a smile. “Most of them are in disbelief. We’ve had people cry, pray, and even sit in silence because they couldn’t believe someone saw them and cared enough to nominate them.” He recalled one man who, in the middle of a divorce and a battle with brain cancer, had lost everything. “When he was healthy enough to drive again, we gave him a car so he could start working. He planned to do DoorDash, and it was his first step toward rebuilding his life.”

Community, Connection, and Compassion

The Shoals community has embraced the effort, though Todd hopes to see it expand even more. “The ones who know about it love it,” he said. “We just need help getting the word out. Share our posts, tell people about the giveaway, and help us find those hidden stories of need.”

Through partnerships with local churches, nonprofits, and even homeless ministries, Lifted Spirits Garage has become a hub of hope, a place where faith and practical help meet.

How to Help

To nominate someone or make a donation, you can:

Email: LiftedSpiritsGarage@gmail.com

Mail: 705 Waverly Avenue, Muscle Shoals, AL 35661

Call: 256-381-7250

The nomination deadline is Thanksgiving Day, and winners will be announced in December. Every dollar you give by then will be matched up to $10,000 by the Joel R. Anderson Family Foundation. As Todd puts it, “Sometimes just one step forward, one car, one act of kindness, changes everything.”