Donating a Car

Transportation is a major problem for many families. Over and over we learn of difficult family situations made even more complex because of transportation problems. How can a family improve its situation when a family member can’t get from home to a better job, because she has no car? What happens when the rent is raised so high that the family needs to move, but the dad walks to his current job because they have no car? How does a family get to the food bank to get food when they have no car? How many times can you ask a neighbor for a ride? What happens when a family’s car is so old that it is constantly in the shop, which means they have no way to get to work? When you miss work, life gets more complicated. Free medical care is offered at a great clinic in West Chester, but if a family has no car how do you get there?

Owning a car in this area is not a luxury it’s a necessity. Public transportation is not easily available. Rides and carpools are good alternatives, but not always consistent or reliable.

If you have a car you no longer need and still works well, let us know if you’d be willing to donate the car to T&E Care which will give it to a family in need. T&E Care will provide you with documentation for tax purposes. This can truly be a way to change a family’s life. If you can’t afford to donate the car but would be willing to sell it to us at a discount that might work as well. T&E Care can help with the family’s financing and make this happen.

We will need to know:

• Make, model and year of car
• Current mileage
• Automatic or stick?
• When is inspection due?
• Are there any issues with the car that would mean it might not pass inspection? Is there anything else wrong with the car?
• What is the general condition of the car’s outside? Inside?
• Have you done any major work on the car in the last few years: new tires, transmission, etc?
• When was the last oil change?

While there are never any guarantees, when a car is transferred, that the car will not have problems, T&E Care would prefer to offer a car to a family that is in decent shape. If some minor work is needed on the car T&E Care sometimes will approve covering the repairs to get the car in shape for the recipient. Please be honest in your evaluation of the car so we know what we are working with in making our decision. Thank you so much for thinking of us!

T&E Car Care & Insurance Program

Donating services to keep cars running safely

For some families who contact T&E Care for assistance, the need is simply a reliable, insured car to get back and forth to work to help them be more self-sufficient. For some families, auto maintenance and auto repairs are low on their list of their priorities, especially when food, rent and utilities are so important. We are asking local auto retailers and repair shops to join our program to address this need. Also, because it’s so important to have auto insurance, it’s incredibly stressful when a family finds themselves unable to pay an insurance bill.

If you have a connection with a local auto retailer or repair shop we are asking for donations of any number of services that will help our families maintain a reliable automobile to get back and forth to work to earn a living. Also, if you have a connection with an insurance agent we are asking for some assistance with car related payments, for example, one free month of insurance. Even one donation per business per year would be a huge help.

We are seeking donations of oil changes, automobile inspections, or free or discounted automobile diagnostics and repair. Additionally occasionally local residents donate cars to T&E Care to be given to local families we like to give these cars a quick check-up before handing them over to a family. Could you donate one of these automobile check-ups? T&E Care will keep track of these offers of help, and then we will distribute them as we learn of a family needing this help. Can we count on your support?

Please contact Bill or Hal at car@tecare.org to tell us how you can help us out. Thank you!