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'Vehicles For Change' Helps Provide Low Income Families With Donated Cars

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- You've probably heard their commercials on the radio here in Baltimore. It's all about an organization helping people get back and forth from their jobs.

Ron Matz has more on how donating a car can change a person's life.

Lynette Proctor-Johnson now has a car.

"My commute to work whether it was public transportation or paying someone or just asking someone for a ride was just torture," she said.

Her previous commute was a nightmarish three and a half hours.

"With public transportation I would have to take three different buses. It would take three and a half hours. And the commute with public transportation still didn't get me to my job. I still had to walk 16 minutes," said Proctor-Johnson.

But the torture ended when she contacted Vehicles for Change.

"They're really helpful at Vehicles for Change. They are open to any questions. They're just a phone call away. It's a warm process. They make you feel comfortable," said Proctor-Johnson.

The organization provides low income families with donated cars.

"Vehicles for Change is all about getting cars to low income families so they can get to and from employment to escape poverty," said Marty Schwartz, president of Vehicles for Change.

Vehicles for Change started 16 years ago.

"We take donated cars, we repair those vehicles and then we identify families who need a car to get to and from employment--because without transportation, I don't care where you live in Maryland, you have no access to employment," said Schwartz.

During that time, they've awarded nearly 5,000 cars to needy families in the area.

"Every car you see here is donated by someone from the general public. We have two organizations--Hirsch Electric and Century Engineering--who give us fleet vehicles. Everything else comes from the general public, so we really rely on people in Maryland to help us out to make a difference for these families," said Schwartz.

And for Lynette, the keys to a new life for her and her four children.

"They called me. It couldn't have come at a better time. It's opened a lot of doors for me. I can do so much more now," said Proctor-Johnson.

Lynette Proctor-Johnson lives in Severn and works for the Maryland School for the Deaf in Columbia.

"The day I received the car was a life changer for me. I got it April 17. I was like a kid on Christmas. I always said I would get this kind of car--the Honda Odyssey. I love Hondas," she said.

For information on how you can donate a vehicle to Vehicles for Change, CLICK HERE.

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