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SARET Car Donation Program IN THE NEWS
The following is available courtesy Daily Herald 01/25/2008
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SARET Car Donation Program
SARET's car donation program began in August 2002 when one of its client's car broke down and she was days
from beginning the school year as a tutor, unable to get to work. Her income at the time was around $700.
She was building up her tutoring jobs and was accepted at a local college for a morning job, but without a car,
her chances of getting out of a miserable income was diminishing. We Sent a letter to the newspapers seeking
car donations, and a Naperville woman responded immediately and donating her car to our charity. Our client
was able to resume work. It is hard to describe the relief and euphoria she experienced when she started up
her car and the relief she felt knowing she could work and not become homeless. Her story became a catalyst
to continue this car program indefinitely.
Since that time, the organization has donated twenty (20) cars and intends to continue donating many more.
These cars make the difference between homelessness and despair , and being able to work and keep a roof
over ones head.
It is literally impossible for people living in the suburbs to survive without a car.
We've watched with joy as people in deep despair turned their life around because they received a used car.
In 2004 , one young mother of one year old twins, was able to begin school at COD, to go shopping for food
and diapers without relying on others for rides. Her sons had asthma and she needed to get to the doctor any
time an emergency took place. Without a car that was not possible. After receiving a car donation from a
lovely young couple she was able to accomplish all these things.
In 2005, one of our car recipients had experienced difficulties finding work as a computer programmer. Working with
a Temp Agency, there were good
months and bad ones. With income being an unpredictable reality, owning a car was the last thing on his mind.
However, his mother's health was deteriorating due to several back injuries and botched up operations and he had
to move to DuPage county to live with his mother and help her. Now getting to work in the city, meant taking
a cab to the train station, or walking four miles if funds were limited ( in the middle of winter and in the snow),
taking a train to Chicago and then driving the CT to work in South Chicago. By the day's end he had to repeat the
same grueling routine on the way home. He spent close to five hours commuting to and from work. The car donated by
an older woman was the Mazda she owned since 1989. She finally wanted a new car. Our car mechanic advised us that
the car was in excellent mechanical condition, just a bit old, and now this man's nightmare journey to work is but history.
Here is the message he left on the answering machine: "Thank you so much. I am so happy with that car. I love it so much.
It is such a blessing. I am hoping to get my career situation back in order."
Our car donation program involves accepting cars in reasonable mechanical condition, investing small amounts
of monies to repair the car if necessary, and donating it to needy clients. Our cars enjoy a new life in the
hands of people who can resume work thanks to that car.
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Guidelines for residents needing a car donation:
Income guidelines:
- If a single, monthly income may be up to $2000 net.
- If a family, income may be up to $3000 net.
Priorities will be given in the following situations
- People with the lowest income who can show that they can afford car insurance and basic car maintenance costs.
- People whose ability to generate income will be hampered or stopped due to lack of transportation.
- People with health challenges that require quick access to medical care.
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