A sliding glass door parts at the airport with a squeak as we step outside into the fresh, Colorado air. The mountains in the distance are swirled with a slight white haze, and it feels as if we have walked into a dream, and for one lucky person their dream is about to become reality.

Mohamed is the winner of the #My2017Drives. We received many entries from Lyft drivers here on Jobcase sharing their stories about their most memorable rides, but Mohamed’s undeniably stood out.

He wrote about a rider he picked up from the airport. This man had lost all his luggage on his flight and was due shortly to meet his CEO and his team for the very first time in jeans and a t-shirt. So Mohamed sprang into action and took him to the nearest store where he went in and helped him pick out shirts and eased his worries. Mohamed even went so far as to give his rider his cologne, because smelling like airplane is never a great way to start off meeting your future boss ; )

He told us, “I was just trying to help someone. I am a normal guy helping another normal guy. That’s what we are supposed to do. What we all should do. It’s what Jobcase does.”

Help, of course, found its way to Mohamed himself when he needed it the most. He had experienced some loss as of late in his family and had some difficult times. The car was a blessing for them and one that certainly did not go unnoticed.

As we drove into Denver and he shared his story, tears filled his eyes and ours. I handed him some crinkled napkins from the back seat which I had saved just in case from an earlier trip to a coffee shop. He apologized profusely, but we both reassured him that he was alright. Winning the car had changed his life and each of us felt it deeply.

Mohamed’s warm smile and positive outlook on the world was wonderful to be around. We learned that in addition to driving for Lyft, Mohamed is in IT and also loves to fix his own car. He hopes one day to teach his children those skills and will be gifting his old car to his nephew when he’s old enough to drive.

He offered to bring us to the airport the next day or anywhere we needed. He even was so kind to invite us to experience a real African dinner at his home, but sadly we had to head back, but I know who to visit when I am in Colorado!

As we pulled up to the curb for one last photo he told us with tear-filled eyes, “I don’t want you guys to leave.” I smiled and said to go take his wife for a drive in their brand new car! He agreed, and as quickly as he had come into our lives, we watched him drive away until the tail lights of the Ford Fiesta and the distant glow of the orange Jobcase logo eventually faded away.

At the end of the day, Mohamed reminds me of why we get up and go to work at Jobcase, and do what we do. We work to help others just as Mohamed did and will always do. He did not need to go the extra mile, but he chose to. Each time you are kind to someone in the community or out in the world YOU make a difference even if you don’t believe it, you do!

A special thank you goes out to....

-Mohamed and his wife/family for letting us “steal” him for the day.

-To Mike, Chris, and Boris at Big Mike’s Naughton Ford dealership. They are such wonderful people and helped make this happen!

-To TNT signs for helping apply the decals for the car. Patient people and know their stuff!

-To Lyft for providing job opportunities for so many.

-To YOU our members here in the community for celebrating this win and reading this story. We appreciate you and we are here for you!