About Our Program
Low income families learn to budget and are then given a free car. We were short 200 cars last year. Donors can receive the highest tax deduction. Cash donations to help pay for car repairs are also needed. See how effectively these gifts will be used:
- It’s more than a car. Many get a job or a higher paying job, they set and achieve goals, make more effective use of their money, become involved in a Christian church and are able to drive to school, doctor appointments, their children’s activities and more.
- Began May 1993. We are a group of volunteers who help people make long-term changes to their lives.
- We serve people in the Stillwater school district, Oakdale, Woodbury and referrals from Christian churches.
- The number of low income families in need of reliable vehicle transportation greatly exceeded what we had anticipated.
- We have been helping about 500 families a year. About 200 of these receive free car repair, a free car or a repaired vehicle sold at a reduced price. Through a combination of classes, mentors and vehicles their lives are changed.
- Program costs average $125,000 a year with another $75,000 in professional guidance, shop use and lot rent support.
- Selling some of the donated cars covered these costs through 2004. We were receiving over 300 cars a year. Since 2005 that number dropped to less than 100 per year because of many organizations advertising for donated cars. We need about 300-400 cars a year to meet the needs we are able to provide.
- Within months of starting we found that repairing or giving a free vehicle was not accomplishing our desire to help the person. They frequently came back needing more help within 6 months or were coming from being helped by other organizations. Nothing had changed for them.
- Volunteers and contributors wanted to see lives changed rather than providing temporary fixes with continued misery for the person.
- Some of our board members and volunteers lives had been changed by completing a Crown Financial Ministries Bible based budgeting program. We added the requirement that a person (recipient) complete this course before they could be given a free car or second time free car repair.
- This began to really change lives for about 1/3 of the recipients. Normally it would change lives for nearly all class participants. We asked the recipients and professionals “why?”
- Why? Because nearly all of our recipients came from or live in a poverty or serious trauma experience (serious accidents, life-threatening illness, separation and loss, neglect, witnessing violence and a variety of abuses including physical, sexual, emotional and familial substance abuse). They needed a mentor and church community.
- During the classes and for about six months a mentor works with the recipient as the class material is applied in their lives and “secure attachment” issues addressed. Now we see over 75% of the lives changed in some way. The others clearly choose not to change and we are OK with that. It is their choice. Interestingly some of these later begin changing based on what they had learned in the classes.
- People come for help with their car needs but leave with the resources to keep their car repaired & maintained and their lives improved. Many get jobs and we now see some come back as volunteers and mentors, rather than in vehicle need again.
"Let us stop just saying we love people;
let us really love them, and show it by our actions."
1 John 3:18 (TLB)