Ron Paris donated a 2002 Ford Escape.
What do Madonna and St. Vincent de Paul Louisville have in common?
Cars.
As part of SVDP’s vehicle donation program, a donor gave us a car that they had named “Madonna.” A few others were called “Betsy” and “Tiger Lily.”
“People are often sentimental about their cars,” said Wanda Selph, SVDP’s Coordinator for Store and Vehicle Donations. “They represent family vacations, their teenagers learning to drive, bringing home a child after birth, or dependability in getting them to work and back for years.”
SVDP receives around 115-135 vehicles per year. All profits directly support our campus facilities for those in need.
“I think it’s easier to part with a vehicle when you know it can be used for a good cause,” added Selph.
While you could take your car to a salvage yard, sell it on Carvana, or trade it in with CarMax—and ultimately receive a profit—it’s often “new life” for people who can’t afford a car or don’t want to go into debt.
“They think maybe someone will get this vehicle who needs a way to work,” she said. “We’ve had clients purchase a vehicle. We’ve had parents purchase a vehicle because they have a child with disabilities or for their teenager who just got their driver’s license. Vincentians have bought cars for people who needed transportation.”
You can donate a vehicle, running or not, and we’ll do the rest.
Here are reasons people donated to SVDP:
- The number one reason is the donor believes that the vehicle still has life, so they would like to see it repaired and used by someone who needs it.
- To claim a tax deduction (donors are generally allowed to claim the gross amount of the sale).
- The owner can no longer drive.
- The owner of the vehicle has passed away, so the executor gives it to us.
- They haven’t driven the vehicle in months, and their spouse wants the extra space.
- They’ve donated “classic” vehicles that they thought they would restore, but lost interest or couldn’t do the work.
- They’re required to remove a non-drivable vehicle from their premises by a Homeowners Association.
What will your reason be? Here are the steps to donate your vehicle today.
- Contact us at (502) 468-8953 to get more information.
- While we prefer you drive your vehicle to the SVDP campus, if it’s not in driving condition, we will tow it free-of-charge.
- On the day of the donation, have the title ready (free from liens) and make sure the taxes are up-to-date.
For more information, visit www.svdplou.org/vehicle-donations-2/.
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