Transportation can often be a significant hurdle for low-income women striving to transition from welfare to sustainable employment. Recognizing this critical need, Strengthen Our Sisters, Inc. launched the innovative Cars For Success Program. This initiative provides essential transportation to help women overcome barriers, secure jobs, and achieve lasting independence. Referred by diverse non-profit organizations and agencies, including homeless shelters, domestic violence support services, job training programs, and welfare agencies, Cars for Success is a vital stepping stone towards self-sufficiency.
The program’s roots trace back to 1998, sparked by the generosity of a couple who donated their used vehicle to a shelter. This simple act of kindness became the catalyst for a transformative program. The donated car was given to a determined woman residing at the shelter, a mother of two eager to leave welfare behind. This vehicle became her lifeline, enabling her to drop her children at the shelter’s licensed pre-school and daycare and actively pursue employment opportunities. Her success story is the cornerstone of the program – she secured stable employment with training opportunities, closed her welfare case, and embarked on a path to self-reliance.
Witnessing the profound impact of that single vehicle, Strengthen Our Sisters, Inc. understood the broader need for accessible transportation. They proactively reached out to the community through newspaper ads and local cable channels, appealing for vehicle donations. The response was remarkable. To date, Cars for Success has received over one hundred and fifty donated vehicles. The program’s growth necessitated hiring a former client and welfare recipient to manage its operations, further demonstrating its commitment to empowerment and creating opportunities within the community it serves.
Cars for Success thrives on community support and awareness. Positive press releases, impactful news articles, and word-of-mouth referrals have steadily increased vehicle donations each week. Donors are incentivized through tax deductions, often exceeding the value they would receive from selling their used cars privately. More importantly, their contributions directly translate into tangible life changes for disenfranchised women and their children, offering them a pathway to non-violent, independent lives, free from the cycle of welfare dependence.
If you are interested in contributing to women’s success stories and empowering independence, consider donating your vehicle to Cars for Success. For vehicle donation inquiries, please email [email protected] or contact Sandra Ramos directly at 973-831-0898 to discuss your donation.
Cars for Success extends heartfelt gratitude to its numerous generous donors. Your contributions are instrumental in empowering victims of domestic violence, poverty, and abuse to secure sustainable employment and build independent futures, breaking free from cycles of hardship and dependence.
