Donating a Used Vehicle in Vermont

In Vermont, a working vehicle can make all the difference in the world. A car definitely makes the difference between subsisting in near poverty with little access to services and society over living as a tax-contributing citizen who can take advantage of much of what the state offers in education, employment, and aesthetic pleasures.

This is especially true in largely rural and farflung Washington County, where a large number of homes exist one or two dozen miles or more from the nearest affordable grocery store, doctor's office or hospital, school or job. With little in the way of public transportation and without a population to support larger community commuter resources, life without a vehicle presents a serious challenge. As gas prices sour, fewer people are willing to make extra trips in service of their friends and family without a car of their own.

Recognizing this distinct need, two local and regional organizations work to turn donated vehicles into the working, primary transportation for needy central Vermont residents, many of whom live at, near, or below the poverty line. Hundreds of cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs - plus an odd assortment of other vehicle types, including buses and campers - have been recycled this way. In exchange for a federal tax deduction, generous and better heeled Vermonters sign the titles over to such organizations just for this purpose.

One of these groups is the Community Action Motors program of the Central Vermont Community Action Council, a non-profit organization. They accept motor vehicle contributions for refurbishment and transfer to individuals and families with limited income, many of whom are young single women with children. This vital assistance allows lucky recipients to reach work, school, daycare, social services, medical and legal appointments, and access key services that include job training, special clinics and affordable grocery stores as well as other shopping opportunities.

Recently, when a local car bomb destroyed not only the apartments of limited income residents but also their cars, the Community Action Council hurried into help. They were able to provide vehicles for a few of the hardest hit.

Likewise, the Good News Garage, part of Lutheran Social Services of New England, gratefully takes in vehicle donations which meet their criteria:

- in running condition
- has no more than minimal rust penetration (with the Vermont winter roads and heavy salting, this can be hard to find)
- has not been sitting unused longer than six months

In operation since 1996, the Good News Garage of Vermont has received more than 3,500 donations and supplied more than 1,300 vehicles to residents who meet their eligibility requirements. Their site provides all the details about how to donate as well as to request help through their program, plus links to help donors determine how much their vehicle is worth which serves as the basis for the tax deduction.

Most organizations like Community Action Motors and Good News Garage only accept working condition vehicles for two major reasons. One is because they don't have the space or structure to store parts long-term. Also, they're simply most interested in donations they can turn around quickly to get back on the roads in communities they serve.

According to Aileen, who asked that her name be changed because she feels embarrassed about her circumstances, her adult daughter who herself is a mother of two was the fortunate recipient of a vehicle from organizations like these. When Aileen's old Volvo died a few years ago, she, her daughter, and grandchildren were left in the lurch - Aileen and Mary had no easy way to get to their jobs or to buy food or attend school programs. Without work, they could hardly afford to buy another car until Mary heard about a community program to which she applied.

"Unless you've been without a car, especially way up here in the winter, you simply can't know what a nightmare it is," Aileen reports. "Our general store is nearly eight miles from here; you really can't walk there and back. Even when we could get there, the prices are really out of our range. Small stores just can't price like the big ones so it affects our ability to buy even basics like eggs and milk and bread. We had to pray one of the kids didn't get sick in the middle of the night since there was no way to get to the hospital or doctor."

Located in one of the more isolated, smaller communities in Washington County, Aileen states that it is very difficult for people to find jobs locally and this can mean a hefty commute. She knows many who commute more than 50 miles each day, sometimes to work that pays little better than minimum wage.

"I just want to say thanks to the people who donate their cars and such," says Aileen. "If people only understood how much good it does for the rest of us, I bet more people would give. A car here is a lifeline, not a luxury. I wish more folks recognized there are a lot of us out here who can't go buy a car the way they can.

To learn more about Community Action Motors, visit www.cvcac.org, call 802-476-7800 or write David Rubin at drubin@cvcac.org. To reach Good News Garage of Vermont, visit www.goodnewsgarage.com, call 1-877-448-3288, or write info@goodnewsgarage.org.