Home - Wheels of Grace

Empowering families,

one car at a time

Knoxville, TN | Providing single parents with reliable transportation

Our Mission

Driven by Grace. Powered by Purpose.

At Wheels of Grace, our mission is to restore hope and mobility for single parents and families in need by providing access to safe, reliable transportation. Whether through down payment assistance, essential repairs, car payment support, or help with insurance costs, we’re committed to removing the barriers that prevent families from getting to work, school, and essential appointments—because when transportation is secure, opportunity follows.

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About Us

Helping single parents keep moving.

Wheels of Grace is a nonprofit founded by Stephanie and Guy Thorpe, owners of a Knoxville automotive dealership who saw a need—and chose to act. Both raised by single mothers, they’ve always had a deep compassion for families navigating similar challenges. Over the years, they quietly stepped in to help—repairing cars, donating vehicles, and supporting families in crisis.

Now, through Wheels of Grace, that quiet generosity has become a bold mission: to provide reliable transportation and critical car repairs to single parents and families in need. Because when your car works, life works—whether it’s getting to your job, school, or a doctor’s appointment.

At its core, Wheels of Grace is about more than just cars—it’s about fostering independence, restoring dignity, and improving the quality of life for those working hard to move forward.

NEED HELP?

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

Your help is what fuels our mission – literally.

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MEET OUR BOARD

Stephanie Thorpe

Chair & Treasurer

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Guy Thorpe

Vice Chair

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Kayla Thorpe

Secretary

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Elizabeth Meredith

Development Director

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Kristin McLoughlin

Community Advocate

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STEPHANIE THORPE, CHAIR & TREASURER

Stephanie Thorpe alongside her husband, Guy, co-founded Wheels of Grace with a clear mission: to assist single parents with the reliable transportation they need to move forward in life. Raised by a single mother herself, Stephanie understands firsthand the challenges single parents face and the impact a dependable vehicle can have on a family’s stability and opportunity.

With a lifelong heart for service and decades of experience in the automotive industry, Stephanie has made it her mission to turn compassion into action. Her leadership and vision have helped Wheels of Grace grow into a nonprofit rooted in faith, grace, and a deep desire to uplift those navigating life’s toughest roads.

GUY THORPE, VICE CHAIR

Guy Thorpe is a devoted Christian, family man, and seasoned entrepreneur with over thirty years in the automotive industry. He and his wife, Stephanie, proudly own Thorpe Automotive in Knoxville, Tennessee, where they serve their community with integrity and a commitment to excellent customer care.

Together, Guy and Stephanie co-founded Wheels of Grace nonprofit organization dedicated to helping single parents with vehicle purchases, repairs, and related expenses such as payments and insurance. Their passion for giving back reflects their faith and heart for supporting families in need throughout their community.

KAYLA THORPE, SECRETARY

Kayla’s heart for Wheels of Grace comes from a deeply personal place. Raised by parents who were both brought up by single moms, she understands the strength it takes to keep moving forward—and the power of having someone in your corner.

With over a decade in the automotive industry, Kayla pairs her industry knowledge with a passion for helping people. She’s proud to support a mission that provides single parents with dependable transportation and the hope that comes with it.

Elizabeth Meredith, Development Director

Elizabeth is a single working mom of three boys. She and her boys have faced challenges they were able to overcome by the grace of God and generosity and compassion of people like the Thorpes. Elizabeth believes she and her children are where they are today because of the love and support of others when they needed it most. Because of these experiences, she is a strong advocate for other women and children in adverse circumstances who need a little help to empower and help themselves.

KRISTIN MCLOUGHLIN, COMMUNITY ADVOCATE

In 1998 Kristin unexpectedly found herself a single mom with 2 small children on a fixed budget. Working multiple jobs to pay daycare and normal living expenses, she understands the impact even a small car repair can have on a fixed budget.

Having served in women’s ministry, the Lord provided a unique opportunity for her to serve women with similar backgrounds, both emotionally and financially. She continues to see the needs of single parenting and is excited to be part of the mission Wheels of Grace.

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” – James 1:27

FUEL THE MISSION

Every dollar drives hope a little further.

Your donation helps a single parent keep their job, get their kids to school, and stay independent. Every dollar goes directly toward vehicle repairs, parts, and donated cars for those who need them most.

Donate once — or monthly
Sponsor a repair or a vehicle
100% of proceeds go to families in need

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TESTIMONIALS

“Wheels of Grace has helped my family so much. We recently hit hard times and needed a new vehicle but didn’t have much to work with for credit, income or a down payment. However they were still able to help get us into a good reliable vehicle with lower payments than our previous vehicle. They have also helped fix two of our windows when the parts and labor were too expensive for us to afford. I am forever grateful for the help and love they have shown to us! I always tell others they are the most kind and trustworthy people that I know! They truly believe in helping others through the kindness of their own hearts and I am so very lucky to have receive so much help from them myself!”

-Kaylie

“We are so grateful to this ministry in helping us to get our car running again. The catalytic converter broke as I was driving my Traverse. As a family of 6 with a tight income this was a major setback for us and this was our only reliable car. We also were going through some health things that had put us out of work at the time. God orchestrated a way for us to connect to this ministry and within a day they had our car towed to the dealership and the next day we had a call that it was already repaired. It was running better than ever when we picked it up. Thank you again Guy and Stephanie and your ministry for helping our family in their time of need. You truly were an answered prayer from God.”

-Anonymous

I cannot say enough about the incredible support we received from Wheels of Grace. As a single parent and small business owner, an unexpected vehicle breakdown could have been devastating for both my family and my livelihood. When our transmission failed, I didn’t know how we were going to manage. Thanks to this faith-based non-profit, we were able to get the transmission replacement funded and get our family and business vehicle back on the road. Their generosity and compassion not only kept us moving forward but also reminded us that God truly provides through the hands of others. This organization is a lifeline for families and entrepreneurs facing financial hardship. They step in when people need it most, meeting real, practical needs with love and grace. For anyone considering becoming a donor, sponsor, or service partner, please know that your support makes an immediate and life-changing impact. Because of Wheels of Grace, we are back to work, back to school, and back to providing for our family. We are so grateful for their mission, their heart, and their commitment to strengthening communities. If you are looking for a faith-based non-profit that helps families, single parents, and small business owners in times of crisis, this is the one to support!

– Mike W.

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