On one of the first fall Sunday afternoons, October 19, the parking lot of NYPD Police Service Area (PSA) 9 Community Council on Jewel Avenue became an outdoor classroom. Neighbors from nearby NYCHA Pomonok developments and across the community gathered for Car Care 101: Auto Repair Workshop, an inaugural program built around the simple idea of giving people practical skills that can make the difference when life intervenes unexpectedly.
This event emerged from close coordination between PSA 9 Community Affairs, the office of Assembly Member Sam Berger, and Chaverim of Queens & Great Neck. Instead of a lecture, it was structured as a hands-on learning experience. The result was a program that felt as much like a neighborhood gathering as a technical workshop.
Assembly Member Berger’s office, represented by District Director Josh Simanowitz – also a newer Chaverim volunteer – played an active role in supporting the program, working with Chaverim Coordinator Shuie Alter. PSA 9 Community Council President Rasheeda Jennings and Treasurer Tameek Williams opened their facility, making the space approachable and safe for an afternoon of instruction, discussion, and real participation. It was a model of collaboration between law enforcement, elected officials, and community volunteers.
Leading the demonstrations was Yosef Noy, a senior responder with Chaverim of Queens, joined by other volunteers including Yoey Lieberman and Rabbi Akiva Spingarn, Executive Director of Bnos Malka Academy of Queens, who attended with his daughters. Their presence reflected the spirit of volunteerism that Chaverim represents: service not as an obligation, but as a family value.
Chaverim has operated as an all-volunteer roadside assistance organization in Queens since 2008, with nearly 130 active responders helping stranded drivers at no cost. Their focus that afternoon was straightforward: showing residents how to address common roadside issues calmly and effectively. Attendees rotated through live demonstrations on changing a tire, plugging a puncture, jump-starting a dead vehicle, checking fluids, and preparing emergency kits. Questions flowed naturally, and so did follow-up demonstrations. Many participants filmed short clips on their phones or scribbled notes for future reference.
What made the event especially meaningful was a reality voiced by several attendees: Many NYCHA residents do not own cars, but they rent vehicles for essential errands, appointments, or family travel. When something goes wrong – a flat tire, a dead battery – these families often face steep costs. Learning how to handle such situations independently can prevent prohibitive expenses from compounding an already tight budget. One participant remarked quietly, “I didn’t even know this was something I could learn. I thought it always had to be towed.”
The success of this first workshop has already sparked discussions about expanding the program. PSA 9’s youth officers are exploring ways to replicate the experience with local teens in the surrounding housing developments, using the same hands-on approach to teach skills like plugging a tire and basic vehicle maintenance. It’s a chance not just to teach practical knowledge, but to build trust and familiarity between young people, police officers, and community volunteers.
The day ended with expressions of appreciation for the volunteers, including the instructors, who made it possible with their time and dedication – and for the residents who showed up not just to listen, but to engage, learn, and contribute.
Plans are already underway to bring a larger Car Care 101 event in the post-winter cycle. What began as a small fall gathering in a parking lot may grow into a pivotal program that helps residents save money, build confidence, and strengthen community bonds.
