Labor of love

Angelique Flores

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- Lilia Lamas dropped off her 1974 Plymouth Valiant

to be serviced at Total Car Care, but the mechanics at the Surf City

automotive shop offered more than she expected.

They gave her a genaerous helping of free labor through Pathways to

Independence, a nonprofit group that helps struggling young adults get

through school and on the road to self-sufficiency.

Dave Bishop founded the organization nine years ago. The retired

principal at a continuation school in Los Alamitos came up with the idea

after taking in a former student who was unable to support herself and

her 2-year-old daughter.

The Surf City man and his wife soon found themselves helping out other

young adults who were working to make ends meet.

After seeing the success of some of those they had helped, the Bishops

expanded the program.

To participate, the program’s clients must have an intense desire to

receive an education and fall at or below state and federal standards for

poverty, Bishop said. Clients are generally between 18 and 23, and many

have had problems with drugs, alcohol and the law, he added.

Pathways seeks to help clients to get an education and a solid job by

giving them a $200-a-month stipend, paying for books and tuition, and

offering free counseling, medical services and automobile services.

“The only possible road block is yourself,” Bishop said. “We’ve taken

away all the other ones.”

To hold up their end of the bargain, participants must be full-time

students, hold part-time jobs, go to psychological counseling and check

in regularly with a mentor.

“Two things inspire me: the obvious metamorphosis you see in these

kids and the 150 volunteers,” Bishop said.

The mechanics at Total Car Care donate their labor, charging Pathways

clients only for parts.

“We are here to help everybody. That’s what it’s all about,” said the

shop’s owner, Mike Evans. “The kids are so grateful.”

Besides Evans’ shop, attorneys, printers, psychologists, doctors and

other businesses in Huntington Beach and elsewhere in the county offer

services to Pathways’ participants at no charge.

“I didn’t think so many people would be so willing to help,” Bishop

said. “But no one says no.”

With the volunteers’ help, Bishop has been able to see 110 young

adults through the Pathways program.

“Without their help, I wouldn’t be anywhere,” Bishop said. “I

certainly couldn’t raise enough money to pay everyone.”

For Evans, the wall of thank-you cards and seeing the students become

successful adults is the reward.

Lamas, a program participant, is studying art at Santa Ana College,

where she also works part time as a clerical assistant. The Garden Grove

woman expects to graduate in the spring and will then transfer to Cal

State Long Beach.

The program “has become essential for school and my whole life,” Lamas

said. “My car would’ve broken down a long time ago.”

Lamas lives with her parents, who are not financially able to support

her. She was able to stay in school through scholarships up until a year

ago.

“I was at a point where scholarships were gone, and I had to find a

way to keep with my school,” Lamas said.

Besides the car services, Pathways has also directed her to an

optometrist for new glasses and a dermatologist to treat her acne, which

she was never able to do before.

“It’s a blessing to have them,” Lamas said.

She also appreciates her therapist and mentor.

“It’s a big help for me to know that there are people out there who

care,” she said.