New Canaan residents struggling with car-related costs can now get help through a new partnership involving the town, a nonprofit organization and local businesses.
Caffeine & Carburetors—the antique and specialty car show launched by town resident Doug Zumbach outside his eponymous coffee shop on Pine Street—last year raised tens of thousands of dollars for the New Canaan Community Foundation and Waveny Park Conservancy.
This year’s downtown C&C, scheduled for June 22, will direct all show funds—including those raised through its registration system—toward a new program that helps qualified New Canaanites with car maintenance and repair costs.
“When we were thinking about the best use of these funds, we really wanted to make sure that it was going back into our community, and to support local families in one way or another,” C&C Director of Business Development Claire Drexler said. “And we felt like this, with the automotive tie-in, was the perfect way for us to give back to New Canaan, which has been so gracious in allowing us to continue to host this event.”
There are two Caffeine & Carburetors shows scheduled for this year, June 22 (downtown) and Oct. 19 (Waveny). In addition to raising funds for local nonprofits last year, C&C used some of what was raised downtown to offset the cost of the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce’s e-Gift Cards, leading to a steep rise in use of the cards, which support local businesses. (Drexler said C&C would continue to support the Gift Card program.)
Under the new program, titled “Caffeine & Carburetors Automotive Assistance Fund,” town residents who can’t afford car costs may go to the New Canaan Department of Human Services. That agency performs a financial review and, if qualified, the resident is directed to locally owned Main Street business C&H Auto. All costs are paid by C&C, through a fund overseen and managed by the New Canaan Community Foundation.
During a two-week trial period, work has been done at C&H on four cars, officials say.
C&H owner Sean Brennan, himself a 1991 New Canaan High School graduate, said he’s offering his services at a discount to give back to the community.
“I’d like to get more involved in the community and this felt like a great way to do it,” Brennan said. “It’s been a good experience so far and we’re excited to be able to help.”
The auto shop has helped with brakes, oil changes, fuses and tire rotations, according to Marcella Rand, the Human Services department’s director and adult and senior services coordinator. She said the department is not able to help clients with auto repair costs, which can have a knock-on effect for those in need.
“If they need auto repair and can’t get it then they are out of work and can’t pay rent, can’t afford daycare, it’s horrible,” Rand said. “It’s a trickle-down to bigger problems, so with Caffeine & Carburetors stepping in I just feel like we have a guardian angel.”
The new program takes “a big weight” off of residents who often are in two-parent-working families where a car is a must.
NCCF President and CEO Lauren Patterson said the origins of the new program date back to last spring when Caffeine & Carburetors approached the Community Foundation about managing its ticket sale process for registered show vehicles and “we embarked on process to figure out where could they have a local impact that would feel really good to them and the Caffeine & Carburetors community.”
The organization’s longtime partnership with Human Services revolves around the NCCF “Touch of Life” fund which provides emergency financial assistance for costs such as car repairs, rent, utilities and summer camp.
“When we talked more about an opportunity around car repairs, and the importance of critical car maintenance to make sure that families can keep working and getting kids to after school programs, it seemed to resonate with the mission of Caffeine & Carburetors,” Patterson said. NCCF set up and hosts the fund itself, for distribution to qualified town residents in need.
“This project is exciting for the Community Foundation because it bridges a lot of different partners and interests, and makes sure that dollars are meeting a real community need,” Patterson said.
Drexler said that C&C plans to support the new Automotive Assistance Fund on a continual basis, and even hopes to expand it—for example, by providing a second vehicle to a family that needs it.
Those seeking more information or financial assessment to determine eligibility New Canaan Human Services Director Marcella Rand at 203-594-3083 and Marcella.Rand@newcanaanct.gov.
What a fantastic concept! Being a grease monkey myself, I love it.