When Tania and Bryan and their children moved to Georgia from Connecticut in 2019, they had to get rid of their salvage title car, which can’t be registered or insured in Georgia.
The couple recently came to NFCC for financial assistance. When NFCC’s Client Assistance Specialist Ingrid spoke with the family during a 90-day follow-up, it was clear that the family’s financial situation couldn’t improve without reliable transportation.
The couple have three children – a daughter, 10, and sons, 6 and 2. Without a car, Tania has had to rely on the goodwill of her relatives for rides, planning around their work and personal schedules. Often, she’d have to pay for a taxi. Their 6-year-old requires speech therapy twice a week, and Tania was spending at least $40 a week on taxis.
Bryan has a job installing furniture, and he tries to bring in extra money by taking on additional work. However, the lack of a car adds an extra financial burden. To get to work, he has to pay a coworker $80 a week for carpooling and can’t always take advantage of opportunities to work additional hours.
Tania and Bryan were stuck in a cycle – needing a car to increase their income but not having the extra money to buy a car.
After learning about the car donation program, Tania applied immediately.
“Having a car will make our lives easier, will give me more independence and flexibility…. It will allow us to have food on our table when we need it and not only when others are available, will help me to feel in more control of our decisions and what’s best for our family,” said Tania on her application.
Last week, Tania and her children came to NFCC to pick up a meticulously maintained 2009 Honda Odyssey donated by a generous donor.
Now, Tania and Bryan can drive to work, take their kids to appointments and the park, and run errands without relying on other’s schedules or paying for taxis.
“Lack of transportation prevents families from securing employment, getting kids to and from school, making needed doctor appointments and more. We have recently restarted our car donation program which has a powerful and immediate impact on a family. We are grateful to an anonymous donor who enabled us to gift a minivan to Tania, Bryan and their three young children. Donating a car to NFCC is life changing and is a tangible way that we help our whole community to thrive,” said Sandy Holiday, NFCC executive director.
If you have a car or truck that you are interested in donating, please considering help out a family in need. Email Sandy Holiday for more information.
