A Lexington auto repair shop has once again partnered with a local church to help widows and single mothers.

Christian Brothers Automotive, which advertises itself as a company rooted in faith and honesty, will hold its 1th annual National Service Day on Oct. 15, and the location at 148 Old Cherokee Rd. is partnering with Lexington Baptist Church to help the community.

“This is our way, our chosen mission field,”  Joshua Standridge, owner of the Lexington location, told the Chronicle. “It gives us an opportunity to serve a community that may have a need.”

Per the release, the event is held on the second weekend of October, during which the company offers complimentary services for customers, including oil changes, inspections, and safety repairs.

According to Standridge, individual stores get to choose how they participate, and hs extends the offer to widows and single mothers.

Lexington Baptist promotes the event, using their network to find individuals in the community that can benefit. According to Standridge, the event helps about 35-40 people each year.

The inspiration for the day started with a shop in Austin, Texas, which, in 2005, began to offer free oil changes to single mothers and other members of the community in need. The company announced it as a franchise-wide event in 2010, and since then the service day has become a cornerstone to the company. 

The auto shop chain was founded in Mission Bend, Texas, in 1982, and, per the release, has since expanded to more than 250 locations across 30 states. Currently Lexington County only has one shop, but will soon have two, as a second location is slated to open in Irmo (at 8079 Irmo Dr.) on Oct. 17, according to the location’s Facebook page.