BLAINE, Minn. – (March 5, 2015) – Most of us take getting to work for granted. We just get in our car and go. Not everyone has that luxury. The non-profit Cars for Neighbors works to help provide transportation independence for Anoka county residents.
They held their annual charity event last week where one deserving recipient walked away with a new car.
Thirty-five restaurants came together and offered a bite of their best-some sweet, some savory, and all tasty. Some of the restaurants included The Tavern, Acapulco and Nothing Bundt Cakes, to name a few. The organization, formerly known as Free to Be, has been giving away cars to families in need for the past 16 years.
Lisanu Mekuria is new to the board of directors this year but he knew from the start that this was something he wanted to be a part of.
“The more I learned about what they do and the impact that they can have I was more than happy to join the board and try to be another supporter from a company side and as well as from a personal time being on the board of members,” Mekuria said.
He knows on a personal level what kind of impact this organization has had on someone’s life.
“I had an associate that worked for me at Sam’s Club that came to me one day and was like, ‘hey, I can work more hours.’ I’m like, ‘oh, that’s great, what happened?’ She used to take the bus. She was fortunate enough to get a vehicle from Cars for Neighbors, Free to Be at that time and was able to go full time. She had two kids, was trying to go to school, just had a lot of things going on in her life and I know personally, I saw her grow as an associate and just to see her go from somebody that you know, I didn’t even know who could come to work to being one of the best full timers, so I personally was able to meet and work with somebody that was a success story of Free to Be at my club,” he said.
At this event, Mersadie was the well-deserved recipient of a car donation.
“I was using a friend’s car that doesn’t have heat and it’s really tough. It doesn’t have defrost at all, it was really cold and he wanted it back for a long time so now I get to give it back to him,” she said.
For her, this care will give her the independence she’s worked hard for.
“It means a lot – don’t have to ask for rides from friends and stuff and will be able to get to work on time not relying on anyone else,” she said.
It doesn’t just mean a lot to her, but for her two sons as well.
“Gavin has his license also, so he’ll be able to probably not use it right away, but eventually. They’re happy that we have a car now,” she said.
She hopes to one day be able to pass along the good deed.
“I hope someday that I can donate my vehicle, somehow volunteer at the same process to keep it going around. It’s really cool.”
You can learn more about how you can help at www.carsforneighbors.com