A unique car donation program that started 18 years ago in Raleigh continues to expand its reach in the Triad.
Wheels4Hope is a non-profit, faith-based car donation program that turns donated cars into local blessings. The program’s mission is to provide affordable, reliable transportation to economically vulnerable families and individuals who are referred to them by its partner agencies.
Wheels4Hope opened its second Triad office in Winston-Salem in May of this year. Wheels4Hope first came to the Triad in 2012 when it opened its Greensboro location. Six years later they are still in the “Car Blessing” business and growing. 60 people in the Triad received program cars from the organization in 2017. This year the organization is slated to do 80 vehicle placements. The increased goal is a feat that can be accomplished, but more donations are needed to make it happen.
The agency thrives on donations from people in the community who realize that having transportation is key to getting out of poverty. Adriane Singleton, the agency’s External Relations Coordinator says, “We would love to be like Oprah-You get a car… You get a car… And you get a car! The need is great! Our office fields nearly a dozen calls a day from people trying to figure out how they can qualify for a car.”
Wheels4Hope is a self-sufficiency program that works with other human service agencies that have clients who are on the road to success – they just don’t have a car to get them there. These partner agencies include: Veteran Affairs, StepUp Ministry, The Housing Authorities of both Greensboro and Winston-Salem, Family Services of the Piedmont, The Salvation Army Center of Hope, Malachi House, Mary’s House, Greensboro Urban Ministry/Partnership Village, and the list goes on.
These programs offer family and mental health counseling, financial literacy, job skill training among other things. Walking through the doors of these agencies is the first step to qualifying for a car from Wheels4Hope. The company was established in 2000 in Raleigh and since then the mission has not changed and neither has the price. The vehicles are still sold for $500 and the hope is that the people who receive them will use them to better their lives by going back to school and or find gainful employment-things many of us take for granted.
If you haven’t taken a city bus in the Piedmont Triad you couldn’t understand how difficult it is. Think about how you would feel standing at the bus stop early in the morning before dawn. 2018 has been one of the coldest winters we’ve seen in years. Take notice the next time you come to a stop light. Look for the bus stop shelter and most likely you will find a mother with small children. She’s trying to get them to daycare and get to work on time. This task may include a 10-minute walk to the bus stop and two buses… a total of an hour and a half for a trip that would take someone with their own transportation just 25 minutes. Wheels4Hope brings relief to people who fight this battle every day.
Car donations are so important and the organization doesn’t discriminate on what kind of vehicles they accept. The donation process is easy and they will even come to pick the car up.
If you would like to donate a car to Wheels4Hope, log on to their website Wheels4Hope.org or give them a call at 336-355-9130.
