The gift of a car surprises Aiken woman for #ForSC Dollar Day

Transportation was a barrier to Sharon Griffin’s efforts to rebuild her life.

Sharon Griffin is on the road to a better future.

She got the keys to 2016 Nissan Versa thanks to the generosity of the NewSpring family on #ForSC Dollar Day.

To run errands and get to her job, Sharon was spending hundreds of dollars from her meager paycheck on taxi rides every month. That was her only way option if she couldn’t arrange lifts.

But not anymore.

Sharon was surprised with the car at her home by NewSpring Aiken Campus Pastor Matt Steelman, staff and volunteers just before Thanksgiving.

“This is amazing … This is amazing … This is amazing,” Sharon kept saying as she walked up to the car and got in. “I love my family.”

For #ForSC Dollar Day, every NewSpring attender was invited to bring a dollar to show that when everyone gives a little, God can do a lot. Included with the vehicle was insurance for a year.

“A vehicle is the key to making progress in her life,”  NewSpring Aiken Campus Pastor Matt Steelman says. “It just seemed like a really cool thing where we could step in and meet that need.” 

Sharon started coming to NewSpring in the summer. She heard about NewSpring from her caseworker through a program that helps people with disabilities find work.

Sharon was trying to rebuild her life in a new city after personal and family difficulties, and she wanted to put Jesus first in her life again.

Cheryl Melton, a Greeting Team volunteer, offered to help Sharon by driving her to services as well as to the pharmacy, doctor visits, and other errands. Sharon described Cheryl and her husband as "my angels."

On Sundays, Sharon lent her big smile and bubbly personality to greet people at the stairwell. Because of her bad knees, she stood with the help of a cane or sat close by.

“She’s warm and friendly and pretty awesome,” pastor Matt says.

In the fall, Sharon found an office job, but her work schedule conflicted with service times, so she hasn’t been able to make it to church recently, Matt says. Sharon hopes new work arrangements will enable her to return soon.

“It’s super encouraging to see a group of people rally around her and help her,” he says.