Father and Son Repair Cars Based on What Customers Can Pay
September 1, 2026
After a malfunctioning air conditioner left his young children in distress, Michael Kuba took matters into his own hands and learned to fix cars. This initiative has now evolved into a charitable project, The Junkie Garage, which offers car repair services in Glendale, Arizona, based on what customers can afford.
Michael and his son, Matthew
Eleven years ago, faced with an unaffordable $4,000 repair estimate to fix his van’s AC, Kuba decided to learn vehicle repair on his own. Equipped with tools and knowledge from YouTube tutorials, he managed to fix the problem himself. What began as a necessity has now become a mission to assist others in similar predicaments through his nonprofit organization.
With no income verification or financial inquiries, The Junkie Garage operates on a straightforward premise: customers provide the required parts and refrigerant, and they donate what they can for the labor.
“I don’t ask you for your income. I don’t ask you who you are, where you came from, or anything like that,” Kuba said. “I just wanna help people get their cars working right.”
The garage specializes in minor repairs such as air conditioning units, brakes, suspensions, batteries, and alternators, avoiding major engine or transmission work. Remarkably, customers can see substantial savings, with AC repairs costing them on average less than $300, compared to the $2,000 to $4,000 they might face at a traditional mechanic shop.
Assisting Kuba is his son, Matthew, who started helping out at the tender age of 8. Now a 16-year-old, Matthew shares the joy of contributing to their community. “We help the community out, we work on their cars, and it means a lot to me,” Matthew stated. “It’s an amazing bonding experience, and it gives me an opportunity most kids don’t get.”
Through The Junkie Garage, Kuba has aided many, including a foster parent struggling to care for three children with special needs. Without the means to buy necessary parts, Kuba stepped in, and when she returned, her vehicle was already up and running. “When she got there, I already had the car running,” Kuba recounted. The emotional moment came when she realized her charges would have the comfort of cold air once more.
Kuba dreams of expanding his operation to a larger facility with multiple repair bays, potentially supported by a $2.49 monthly Facebook subscription from supporters, allowing him to focus on this mission full-time.
“There’s too many people that need help, and you can’t just give up because it doesn’t always work,” Kuba emphasized.
“If you have the ability to help people, just do it.”
The Kuba family continues to make a difference, one vehicle at a time.
