Bridge Communities seeks car donations

Three families in Bridge Communities’ Transitional Housing Program are in urgent need of safe, reliable transportation, and more families are expected to need cars in the very near future.

“We always need cars, but right now we’ve got immediate gaps to fill in our inventory,” said Bridge Program Director Karen Stewart.

“We have three families whose cars have either broken down or are in need of extensive, expensive repairs. There are an additional handful of families about to enter our program who will also need transportation. The need is always there.”

Bridge Communities rarely sells donated cars for cash, Stewart said. Most donated cars are thoroughly inspected and repaired by Village Garage and Tire in Glen Ellyn, then given to Bridge client families who need transportation. Only cars beyond reasonable repair are sold, with the funds going to Bridge Communities.

Most Bridge client families are single moms with kids. Cars are critical for these moms to get to work to earn money and put away savings; they need to be able to get their kids to and from school and activities to maintain stability in their lives; and they need to travel to the bank, grocery store and Laundromat regularly.

Anyone interested in donating a car to Bridge Communities should contact Stewart at (630) 545-0610, ext. 17, or karen.stewart@bridgecommunities.org. Donations are tax deductible.

Bridge Communities Inc. is a grassroots, nonprofit organization committed to transforming the lives of homeless families in DuPage County through partnering with individuals and groups in the community.

Bridge’s transitional housing, mentoring and supportive services programs empower families to increase life skills and earning power to promote self-sufficiency, sustain permanent housing and break the cycle of poverty within the family unit.

To donate or to find out how to support Bridge in other ways, call Mark Milligan at (630) 545-0610, ext. 10, or visit bridgecommunities.org.