Ooltewah resident Tim Caldwell helps keep vehicles on the road throughout the area. He not only owns Highland Tire stores in Hixson, East Ridge and Fort Oglethorpe, he assists Hixson non-profit Paraclyte Ministries by donating new tires and oil for its vehicles.
Paraclyte Ministries and Paraclyte Counseling Services licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Mark A. Womack, of Ooltewah, left, and Highland Tire owner Tim Caldwell, of Ooltewah, partner to keep Paraclyte Ministries on the road."We want to keep the vehicles safe and dependable," said Caldwell. "Paraclyte Ministries is looking for a couple of car donations for better fuel mileage now. They need better vehicles to help more people in more areas."
Paraclyte Ministries hosts traveling teaching workshops for youth groups on Sundays and Wednesdays. In addition, Ooltewah resident Dr. Mark Womack handles marriage and family counseling and counsels children through Paraclyte Counseling. He is a licensed psychologist.
"When people step up and volunteer to help, they provide more for the organization to offer the community," said Womack. "Tim and his workers have kept two really old vehicles on the road. Indirectly, Tim is providing therapy. In the therapy world, [psychologists] are the givers, so it's neat to see other people give back."
Caldwell said he will review ministries' needs in his other store areas to determine where to best help through free vehicle maintenance.
Womack is also looking for furniture donations to his 501(c)3 for a client who "lost everything."
"I believe in helping people," he said. "I am called to touch people's lives. I'm here to love people."
Womack first decided to go into counseling and the ministry while working as a teacher for special-needs children. He said he realized that the world needed more counselors to encourage people instead of judge them. Sometimes people just need a kind word of encouragement to brighten their day, he said.