HAM LAKE, Minn. – (March 24, 2017) – “It’s a really exciting day to mark this milestone,” said Car for Neighbors executive director Jim Huff. Local non-profit Cars for Neighbors celebrated giving away their 1000th car last weekend.
“1,000 cars but what we are really talking about is 1,000 lives or 1,000 families impacted by now having safe, personal, reliable transportation. Our core mission is to get people to work but we also know that when people have a car and can get to work they can also get their children and selves to medical appointments, they can get their children to community activities, and it really builds a vibrant community so we’re honored and excited to give the 1,000th car away. I think we actually have 1,001, 1,002, and 1,003 somewhere in the pipeline so we’re just going to keep going with our mission here in Anoka County,” said Huff.
Reliable transportation is essential, especially when living in Anoka County with less options for public transit.
“About 80 percent of the people we serve are…single parents trying to do it all themselves and then their car breaks down or they just don’t have a car. We’ve had a number of people when we’ve presented cars to them say that before receiving their car they were spending at least four hours a day on the bus getting to and from work and of course that’s time away from their kids and that’s important time. We’re honored to be able to do this here in Anoka County,” said Huff.
Georgetta Dorsey was the lucky recipient of the 1000th car. She actually had a vehicle but it needed thousands of dollars worth of repairs and with four kids and a job at the Minnesota Autism Center she needed something more reliable.
“Georgetta originally came to us and applied for car repair. She had a car, so we brought her in. Our process is if somebody has filled out their application and the next step is to get them is for an inspection. Unfortunately, that inspection showed her car wasn’t even safe to be on the road It needed just way to much work. I want to say it was $2,200 and that was with reduced parts and labor. Fair market value well over $4,000 so we know we couldn’t fix her current car. But, because she is working full time we were able to move her to our car donation list,” said Huff.
The owners of the Ham Lake Meineke have been long time supporters of Cars for Neighbors and through the generosity of one of their customers this day became a reality.
“The owners here at Meineke sourced the car for us. This is exactly the kind of vehicle Georgetta need for her and her four children. Meineke took it on as project, donated more than $1,800 in labor to get the car ready,” said Huff
Georgetta received the keys to her new van along with a roadside emergency kit and a gas card to help with the first fill up.
“I feel so blessed. I’m so excited to have a new vehicle, I mean this is an awesome program, ” said Georgetta Dorsey.
Georgetta is back on the road but many others are still waiting for their transportation independence.
“We have a waiting list about a six month waiting list. We really have a need for some good cars that we can fix up…so we can get that waiting list down,” said Huff
