Bistro serves up auto repairs and hope

MIAMISBURG, Ohio (WDTN) - To kick off random acts of kindness week, we head to Miamisburg and visit a restaurant that's cooking up something special for the community, and driving home the meaning of the doing good for others.

"This is a garage behind One Bistro," said Jerry Froelich.

A classical soundtrack fuels this Miamisburg mechanic as he works under the hood of a sedan. And, like his choice in music, his service is unexpected.

"We do faith-based auto repair here," said Jerry. "As long as the customer can cover the parts and a little bit of the labor, that's fine."

He does affordable repairs for those in need. Jerry is no stranger to engine trouble; his life was sputtering out of control just a few months ago after moving to the Miami Valley from New Jersey. He was homeless and didn't have a job.

"I don't want to be like, give, give, give," he said. "I want to have pride and dignity, and know I earned my way in life, "

Jerry said he got that chance through One Bistro. The restaurant out in front of his garage.

"We found Jerry out on the back dock behind our building," said Robert Adamson, owner and executive chef of One Bistro. "He had waited there three days. We were closed for three days, but he literally waited there because he heard about this place and what we're able to do."

One Bistro is a pay-what-you-can-afford restaurant, and if you can't afford anything, you can volunteer your time for food. Although, some people just volunteer for the cause.

"You can eat and you can do it with pride," said Jerry. "Just roll a few napkins, clean a few tables, he (Robert) doesn't ask for anything crazy."

Robert helped Jerry get back on his feet. He put him in charge of the faith-based project's Mechanic's Ministry, where Jerry said he found a home - both figuratively and literally.

"Oh," exclaimed Jerry. "To be able to go to my little oasis, it's not much - a little tiny whole in the wall - but what a great feeling to be able to have your own home."

"He just needed somebody in his life to say, 'You can do this.' Just give him some hope, a little bit of structure in his life, and just love on him," said Robert.

Now, Jerry's paying if forward.

"I'm more grateful than you'll ever know," said Jerry.

Robert says he has four to 16 people working for their food every day at One Bistro. Some as young as the age of 14.