Wheels for Work sees increased need

When a Rotterdam man was ready for a new Chevy Malibu, his mechanic proposed a way the old one could live on: donate it.

So Arthur Foo, a parishioner of St. Madeleine Sophie Church in Schenectady, delivered the car's keys to Albany diocesan Catholic Charities' Wheels for Work program in May.

Someone living in poverty and in need of a car will receive the 2001 Malibu after it's repaired - and after the recipient learns about budgeting and defensive driving.

The need for cars continues to increase in Albany, Schenectady and Rensselaer counties, where Catholic Charities manages the Wheels for Work program. A dozen people are now waiting for cars - but it's getting tougher these days to attract donors, and the program will take another hit when New York State's social service funding cuts take effect.

In 2009, 55 cars were matched with drivers; so far this year, only about a dozen cars have been donated.

Michelle Abel, director of the program, partly blames the federal Car Allowance Rebate System. The cash incentive caused hundreds of thousands of cars that could have been restored and turned over to needy drivers to be scrapped instead.

Ms. Abel said people don't realize that the Wheels for Work program could benefit donors equally through a tax write-off for the fair market value of the car.

In addition, because of the state budget crisis, New York's 36 Wheels for Work programs will lose a total of $6 million. Ms. Abel said this could hurt the behind-the-scenes work in-volved: Besides fixing the cars - which must have less than 150,000 miles, be no more than 11 years old and repairable for less than $1,000 - the program covers initial registration, inspection, insurance for the first six months and AAA membership.

The recipient pays $500 over six months and takes classes in budgeting, credit and defensive driving.

Meanwhile, Mr. Foo enjoys his new 2008 Malibu. The tax write-off from the donation of his old car was a bonus: "Just the satisfaction of knowing that someone's going to use it, that's enough for me."

(07/22/10)