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Disability Nonprofit Needs Your Vote To Win Passenger Van

BALTIMORE (WJZ)— You have the opportunity to help hundreds of Marylanders who are disabled and all you have to do is log onto Facebook.

Andrea Fujii tells us how your vote can help a Baltimore organization win a new van.

These vans are a lifeline for 1,700 mentally- and physically-disabled Baltimore residents. The nonprofit group Chimes assists them with housing and employment, and the vans help integrate them into society.

"People would be basically confined to their houses. It would be similar to being in an institution where you just can't go anywhere," said April Jensen of Chimes.

And on Sunday, they have the opportunity to win a van from Toyota if they get enough votes on Facebook during the Cars for Good Contest.

To equip the van with a wheelchair lift would cost upwards of $55,000.

"There's no way we could justify buying a two-passenger vehicle," said Chimes President Marty Lampner. "Getting it though would make a tremendous difference in people's lives."

Van driver Jamal Howard says a smaller van would help.

"When I take them to their appointments, I can't get into parking garages and I might be able to fit into the gate for access to the hospital," Howard said.

Access that can only be achieved by voting for them.

"Help us out so you all can help the individuals out and make everybody happy so it can be a better world," Howard said.

Toyota is giving away 500 vehicles during their Cars for Good Contest. You can only vote for Chimes on Sunday from 6 a.m. to midnight.  Click here to vote.

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