It’s been over a decade since Mark Reighard teamed up with a buddy to provide a van for a missionary family.What began as a simple act of kindness has now evolved into a significant Good Samaritan act.Righteous Rides made its move from Moscow Mills to Warren County in July of 2017. Since that time, contributions have increased, but awareness was still limited.It’s why Reighard and the volunteers at the organization headquartered on Veterans Memorial Parkway in Truesdale decided to host an open house this past Saturday.“This was a chance to help them know what we do,” said Reighard. “They drive by and see the fish with the wheels (logo) and wonder ‘What is that?’ Some think we’re a motorcycle club or a used car dealer.”Those assumptions would be justified, given that the building previously housed a used car dealership. And while that is one of Righteous Rides’ services, the primary focus is caring for returning missionaries.“We do sell used cars, but it’s cars people have donated to the charity to help raise money to buy vans for missionaries,” said Reighard. “Every car that’s for sale out here has been donated.”Since its inception, vehicles donated by Righteous Rides have accumulated over 16 million miles traveled. The current fleet includes 130 vans, with only a few left on the lot.“We’re doing 2.5 to 3 million miles a year on our fleet, having missionaries driving all over the country to see friends, family and donors,” said Reighard.Missionaries typically reserve the vans as much as a year in advance of their return from overseas.“One of the biggest barriers they face upon returning to America is finding transportation and a place to stay,” said Reighard.Righteous Rides provides the families with the vans to drive anywhere in the United States or Canada for the length of their furlough.Many of the families also return home physically and emotionally exhausted. With that in mind, Righteous Rides has begun extending its provisions beyond vans.“We have a store of free clothes that they can pull from, because a lot of times they are coming back from different climates,” said Reighard.The organization also provides goodie bags for children and counseling for the families.“We started out as a car ministry, but I like to say that we’re a care ministry,” said Reighard. “They feel open to express to us how they feel and the challenges they’re facing. We feel like we’re in this unique position where they can be open with us.”

The Righteous Rides organization held an open house on Saturday to show the community what services it provides. Pictured in red shirt, Tate Aulgur participates in a bag toss game at one of the exhibitor tents. He and his family recently moved to Warrenton from Marshall and were curious about the organization. 

Record photo/Derrick Forsythe