The Good News Garage, a program of Lutheran Social Services of New England, creates economic opportunity by providing affordable and reliable transportation options to people in need. Since 1996 we have provided safe and reliable cars to over 3,000 individuals and families in need of transportation helping them accept a job, maintain a job, or have access to employment training.

Description:
There are many places to donate cars. What makes Good News Garage different? Good News Garage has worked with Massachusetts Welfare and Rehab Agencies to identify families that need cars in order to get back on their feet.

The tax advantage of donating to Good News Garage over other organizations is that we use some cars in our program. When a donated car is awarded to a client, the donor is allowed to deduct the FAIR MARKET VALUE of the car. The fair market value is almost always higher than the price a car would receive if auctioned. If we sell your car at auction, you may take a deduction for what the car sells for. Either way, you have the satisfaction of helping someone in need and receiving a tax deduction at the same time.

The typical donated car for Good News Garage has 100,000 – 120,000 miles. If it needs some repairs, local garages in Massachusetts have committed time and mechanics to help us fix them. Luxury models and other cars, vans -- even boats and RVs -- that don’t meet our criteria for the program are sold at auction. These sales allow Good News Garage to repair other cars for families.

This year we’ve provided more than 300 New England families with reliable transportation. In the last 10 years Good News Garage has transformed the lives of more than 3,000 families and individuals that found the lack of transportation a barrier to economic independence.

History:
Good News Garage opened its doors in July 1996, a direct result of the Social Ministry Outreach Project of Lutheran Social Services of New England, a pioneering effort that brought together clusters of local congregations to identify the needs for social ministry in their communities. One such cluster was organized in the Burlington, Vermont, area. One evening, Hal Colston, a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Jericho, Vermont, brought a new idea to the group, based on his experience working with low-income clients at a local social service agency. He was finding that many of his clients were unable to access employment because they had no transportation. While employment opportunities were increasing dramatically in the Burlington area, they were occurring in outlying growth areas that were impossible to get to without a car.

Hal told the group about a recent situation that had arisen when one of his clients, a single mom with two children, came to him in tears. She had just purchased a car for $500, but on the way home the brakes failed. After repeated breakdowns, Hal tried to get the seller to refund the money, but was unsuccessful. The seller disclaimed any responsibility.

Outraged, Hal began to think about the possibility of a "community garage" where even poor people could obtain a car that would be in working condition and safe to drive. Hal brought his novel idea to the LSSNE Social Ministry Project. His idea "caught fire" and Good News Garage was born!

With initial funding from LSSNE and Wheat Ridge Ministries, Good News Garage began operating first in the office of Ascension Lutheran Church in South Burlington, Vermont, then later in loaned space at the Chittenden County Transportation Authority. Eventually the garage set up shop in its own garage space and has expanded into a newly-built facility with more than 20 people on staff just in its Vermont location.

Due to the success of the program, Lutheran Social Services opened additional programs in New Hampshire (which is also responsible for serving Massachusetts residents) and Connecticut. Since opening, Good News Garage has transformed the lives of more than 3,000 families and individuals who found the lack of transportation a barrier to economic independence.

Contact people:

Susan Swain, Marketing And Development Manager, (phone), (email) Bob Buckley, Program Manager, (phone), (email) Nancy Gagnon, Administration Assistant, (phone), (email)

Address:

720 Edgell Road Framingham, MA 01701 (See a map)

Directions:

We do not currently have a location in MA. We will be training volunteers as the Lutheran Church of Framingham. Use MapQuest to find directions, depending on your start location.   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: N/A   Nearest Bus Stop: N/A For maps or information, please see http://www.mbta.com