Do car donations help the community?
Car Donation Charity Stories Page 4
When you think about who benefits from a car donation you'll usually think of the donor, the charity and the individuals receiving the charities’ aid. But if you look a little closer you'll see a fourth; the environment.
How? Quite simply; we’ve all seen them, lined up along the street, in the front yard up on concrete blocks, clogging the roads and parking lots. Call them what you like: abandoned vehicles, un-used, non-op, and project cars. They spell out the same thing: ‘Junk!’
By removing these eye sores from our community it actually brings beauty and cleanliness back to the environment.
Another factor to consider is the safety hazards of sitting vehicles. Oil leaks, chemical spills and others all present danger to the environment and to children as well.
After the vehicles are removed they don’t then go straight into the local land fill or junk yard. They are purchased by licensed dealers and are then fixed up and put back into running condition.
“Do car donations help the community?”
Absolutely.
From a Public Safety Education Officer: Thank you for your gift of small furry friends to the children.
Several years ago an area organization donated bears to our department and we found them to be very helpful in calming small children involved in stressful situations. We average over 48,000 calls a year and many of them involve children. Your gift will be put to immediate use!
Recent situations, which could have benefited from the Teddy Bears, include two small children held hostage by a gunman for over 28 hours and a man who threw two children to the ground from a second floor window. While all four children received relatively minor injuries, the emotional trauma was extremely high. How we would have loved to have your bears then.
I will be sure to let you know of our success stories. We appreciate your generosity and hope you will keep us in mind when sending out more bears.
From the Manager of a Department of Police Services: We received your letter addressed to our Chief of Police, about the "Teddy Bears" you have given our Police Department, and we are thankful for such donation.
We are furnishing you some of our community service officers' incidents, stories relative to giving these Teddy Bears to children in crisis, and how their "attention had been diverted from the trauma". From an officer who states:
"I responded to a two-car accident - one vehicle had 3 children aboard: 2 years old, 4 years old, and 7 years. These children were physically okay, but emotionally upset, because their mother was injured and needed transport to the hospital. The bears provided comfort and distraction for the children on the scene and through the transport. The children spent time naming their bears and playing with them".
"Domestic Violence call: Husband was beating mom in front of their children. Officers were called. The scene was under control. The mom needed to be interviewed and the children occupied. I was requested to provide bears for three children. I had on board three 3-foot tall bears. The children were amazed and delighted when they saw the bears, as were the officers and firefighters on the scene.
"Sexual Assault: A 13-year old aunt caring for a 5-year old niece while in a park in the south end. The 13-year old was sexually assaulted. Both children were emotionally upset for different reasons. The 13-year old needed to be interviewed, and the 5-year old needed to be moved from the location so that interview could occur. The 5-year old was provided a choice of bears from a sack full. She chose one, and then needed a friend for the 1st. She held them close while her aunt was away from her".
We have handled over 100 homeless families with kids that we have given bears to.
And your Teddy Bears donation had been a great help to us.
Again, thank you for including our department in your list, and we would appreciate receiving donations from your institution.
From a Fire Department about how this program Benefits the Elderly: Thank you very much for your generous donation of teddy bears for our rescue. Your "Teddy Bear" program is a wonderful idea. As you know it makes a world of difference when a child in distress has a furry friend to comfort them. We have also found that our elderly population finds great comfort in holding a bear. They don't want to let them go. They are always so tickled to know that it is theirs and they don't have to give it back.
We appreciate being considered for your generous program and would like to continue to receive your teddy bears. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Fire Department
