Does anyone know of any charities that donate cars to needy families?

Question

A friend of mine is in need of a vehicle but cannot afford one. She is 23 years old and has 3 children- twin sons age 6, and a 5 month old daughter. When she was 17 years old, she was raped and 9 months later, her boys were born. Anyways, she needs a car so that she can go back to work, as well as take her sons to school. She cannot afford a car because 2 months ago, her apartment was set on fire by her ex, and she lost everything. All her money went toward replacing her stuff and getting a new place. Anyone know of any charities that would help her aquire a vehicle?

She lives in the California, in the SF Bay area to be more precise.

Answer 1

To give you the best answer I'd need to know what state and what city she is in or near. But since I don't the best help I can offer is to tell you how she can find out the specific answer for her area. Start by calling the welfare dept often Called Department of Children and Family Services. She can find their number in the phone book or at www.switchboard.com al;so call the domestic violence agency in her area. To find a domestic violence agency near her call National Domestic Abuse Hotline 800 799 SAFE (800 799 7233) for the hearing impaired who use a TTY 800 787 3224 or go to http://www.ndvh.org/ . There is a chance that one or the other may have a Wheels to Work type program. Even if they don't if there is any agency in her area offering a car on that basis one of these 2 agencies will know who it is. The Welfare dept can probably also help her with a Work First type program that helps moms in need find jobs or job training, helps with child care and transportation costs and even clothes for job hunting. She may need to rely on public transportation and on school buses for the boys for a while. Even if she is in an area like the one we are in with no bus having Work First type help may make it possible for her to pay cab fare or pay a friend to help her with rides.

The next best possibility would be to see if she or a family member are part of a church or civic group that might help with a car because that connection or would be willing to provide a tax receipt iof she can find an individual or dealership that will donate a car or if she has a relative who would cosign for a used car and make the first payments.
If she finds a group that has IRS nonprofitb status and can issue a tax receipt she can call area car dealers and ask if they have cars they are planning to take to auction that they would donate instead. Dealers usually will auction slow selling cars or ones that don't meet their lot criteria that they have taken in trade. They don't get a lot at auction even tho they may be OK running vehicles but usually older ones so from time to time a dealer will donate.

My final suggestion is that she go to Yahoo Groups and join any Freecycle groups near her. Freecycle encourages one to one gifts to help prevent things from enbding up in land fills. I am a member of 3 Freecycle groups and in the last month I have seen a car offered one time but it is still worth a try since it is free.

Answer 2

Have a look at http://needy-families.cardonatehelper.org

Have fun with your research and good luck with finding the right charity!

Take care!

Tarsha
It's Official: Sharing Makes Us Happier!

Answer 3

i know people donate cars to the schools that have auto shop. the students fix the car all up and sometimes paint them as well . they are all checked by the teacher and then i dont know what happens to the car. i suggest you phone some of the schools or school board about this . she sure sounds like a lady that should get a free car. i wish i could give her a car . but i cant.

Answer 4

Goodwill or S>A. Alot of different organizations have cars that they sell cheap.. Also look in the High School Auto school especially the Trade Schools

Answer 5

try the salvation army' good luk

Answer 6

google it