Coronavirus goodness: Bay Area company offers free car service to frontline healthcare workers

Like so many others, YourMechanic has found a special way to thank the thousands of people who work to keep our communities safe and caring.

This ABC7 News Project Thanks story comes from the Bay Area-based company, which maintains reliable transportation for frontline workers at a time when they need it most.

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On Thursday, YourMechanic performed an oil change, wiper blade change and a quick buff. This “to do” list was made in Steven Levitte’s driveway.

“My cars were actually both due for an oil change in March,” Levitte said. “And of course, by the time I started programming them, my local mechanic was closed until further notice.”

“It was easy today,” mechanic Robert Mostipak told ABC7 News. “There aren’t too many big jobs right now, and that’s unfortunate, but you know it will come back.”

Mostipak has been a mechanic at YourMechanic for about seven years. For the past few weeks, his work has been free for frontline healthcare workers like Levitte.

“Everything is a challenge now. I mean, everyone handles it differently. I have a few people who are right there with me, who want to watch over my shoulder while I work on their car,” Mostipak explained. . “And other people standing at their window, looking out the window.”

But this free service, associated with a new commercial contactless approach, was recently launched by YourMechanic.com.

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“In this case, I didn’t have to touch anything, or come into contact with anything,” Levitte said. “It protects me, it protects the mechanic, and I think that’s really important.”

“Our view is that if we can help them get to work, the world will be a safer and better place,” said company president and CEO Anthony Rodio. “And we can all hopefully get back to normal sooner.”

Rodio’s Mountain View-based business was launched in 2012 and has expanded across the United States

“Most people get everything delivered now. They want their food delivered, their groceries delivered. I can have my dog ​​groomed in my driveway,” he said. “I should also be able to get my car fixed in my driveway.”

The pandemic has put YourMechanic in a position to help medical professionals perform important automotive maintenance, without interrupting the workday.

“I rely on my car. My car has to work. It can’t break down. I can’t have a flat tire or something like that,” Levitte said. “I have to be there. My patients depend on me.”

Levitte is a pediatric resident at a local hospital. He works 80 hours a week, and sometimes 14 days in a row.

“If they don’t get where they’re going, we can’t get where we’re going,” Mostipak told ABC7 News. “And everyone has to work together for that.”

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“They have to get to work to keep people safe. The way you get to work is to drive your car. No one wants to take public transportation or ride-sharing services these days,” Rodio added. “So we thought the most important thing we could do for them, for what we do, is to provide a free service to healthcare workers.”

No consignment store waiting room, no need to whip out your wallet. This is just one of the ways YourMechanic echoes the community’s gratitude for Levitte and others on the front lines.

“It’s really humbling to see people who, even in really tough times, are able to really step back and recognize the sacrifice that many health care providers make,” Levitte said. “In order to do their job.”

A demonstration of gratitude at all levels.

Healthcare workers interested in the program can email [email protected] to arrange for their car to be repaired.

For a list of services offered by YourMechanic, click here.

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