On the evening of May 19, Carrboro’s beloved car repair shop, Auto Logic, celebrated its 30th birthday with music, food, and fun. The funds raised benefited Auto Logic’s neighbor, Club Nova, a nonprofit organization that helps local citizens struggling with mental illness. The event included music by Rachel Kiel & Friends, a pie eating contest, a dunking booth, food for attendees, and an appearance by WCHL’s Ron Stutts. Both businesses recently won Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards, with Club Nova earning the community impact award and Auto Logic winning best customer service.

Club Nova’s unique organization engages members with mental illness in various activities around the “clubhouse” that help them build relationships with each other and the community. The business neighbors Auto Logic in downtown Carrboro and has existed for almost as long. Bo Fader, Auto Logic’s office manager, discussed why the car repair company chose to have the funds raised at the event benefit Club Nova.

“The reason we chose to [donate the proceeds to Club Nova] was because they provide such an amazing service to the community,” said Fader. “Not only do they help their members, and provide a safe and productive place for them, they’re also good, solid neighbors. We’ve [both] been around for so long and interacted for so long we wanted to make sure they were recognized.”

Ron Stutts joined Auto Logic for their 30th birthday in May.

On air, WCHL radio host Ron Stutts interviewed Auto Logic owner Marianne Jones as well as members of the Club Nova community. Kimberly Anderson, the development director of Club Nova, spoke about the organization’s mission.

“Club Nova is an incredible community that supports people on their journey recovering from mental illness, and it’s probably the most comprehensive resource that you can find in the mental health system,” said Anderson. “We help people go back to school [and] back to work, and we really emphasize having access to meaningful friendship. Community is at the heart of what we do.”

In the same interview, two members of Club Nova, Eric Foster and Chris Shore, also shared their experiences with the nonprofit.

“At Club Nova, I do a little bit of everything. Sometimes I help cook breakfast and lunch, help out in the thrift store, or help in [administration],” said Shore. “[It] helps me get out of the house and have something to do every day, instead of just playing video games.”

Foster described working in the thrift shop and building relationships in the community.

“I work in the thrift shop, [mainly] taking in donations, working on the register, and of course most importantly, building relationships with our members,” said Foster. “That’s probably the funnest part of our job. We have socials two times a week [and] we have a special event going on where we go out into the community and just build relationships with each other.”
The event raised $1,462 through selling t-shirts, donations, and a dunking booth. Auto Logic has been serving Club Nova vehicles for many years. Club Nova will be celebrating its own 30th anniversary next year.

T-shirts for purchase are still available in select sizes at Auto Logic. Proceeds will continue to fund Club Nova.