April 8, 2026
Kathy Heying didn’t know what she was getting into. She moved to Minneapolis in 1997. With a bachelor’s degree in social work and a masters in pastoral ministry, she went to work for a progressive Catholic church as Director of Social Justice. She saw so many people living in poverty that were living in their cars and depending on those cars to get them to work.
The need for affordable car care was screaming. Or was it the Holy Spirit? She felt she did not have the skills for auto repair or the interest in fund raising, but the need haunted her until she recognized it as a call. So she went and got an associate’s degree in auto technology and started learning about fundraising.
13 years ago next week (April 13), she founded The THE LIFT GARAGE, offering affordable, non-profit auto repair service for people who meet the 150% Federal Poverty Guideline. It started with volunteers and prayers.
The work met with significant issues: land, equipment, costs, insurance, safety, and more. She was rejected 13 times by insurance companies, until one took a chance on them.
Today The Lift is a $2.1M nonprofit. $1.8 of that is fundraised, most from individuals. Their donor retention rate just under 70%. No government funding.
The Lift has 17 staff and their own building. The Minneapolis auto repair market rate is $175/hour. The Lift charges $25/hour, offers free pre-purchase inspections, and books 140 appointments a month.
If you want to support this ministry, you can give HERE.
