Donated car puts New Bedford man in the driver’s seat

Imagine trying to live a productive life without reliable transportation. From buying groceries to maintaining steady employment, daily life would be a struggle. Thankfully for one New Bedford man, his transportation struggles are now over.

Scott Baptista was awarded a life-changing car from the vehicle donation nonprofit Good News Garage. His used 2014 Ford Fusion, donated by a generous New Englander, will transport him to a brighter future. Baptista is one of over 5,000 recipients of a vehicle from Good News Garage since the New England-based charity began providing reliable transportation to neighbors in need in 1996.

While presenting the car to Baptista, he commented on how it will make his life easier. His current commute to school in Fall River takes nearly three hours using the available public transportation. Now that he has a reliable car, he expects the commute to take just 20 to 30 minutes. He said having this car also expands his employment opportunities, both in terms of hours worked and distance.

Good News Garage awards cars to Massachusetts residents through a partnership with the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC). Car recipients must be employed or have a written plan for employment and meet other qualifying criteria. This program is administered out of Good News Garage’s Manchester, New Hampshire office.

A lack of reliable transportation is a major barrier preventing people from achieving upward mobility and financial self-sufficiency. This is especially true in rural areas that lack a substantial public transportation network, or one that runs outside of conventional working hours. Good News Garage’s ability to help our neighbors in need is only limited by the number of vehicle donations it receives. The organization remains one of the few car-donation programs in the country that awards donors’ old or unused cars to neighbors in need, and in doing so can offer donors generous tax deductions.

For more information or to donate, visit www.GoodNewsGarage.org. Good News Garage is a member of Ascentria Care Alliance, one of the largest human services organizations in New England. With locations throughout the region, Ascentria is creating measurable, positive impact in communities by empowering people to reach beyond life’s challenges and thrive. For more information, visit ascentria.org.

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About Good News Garage
Good News Garage launched in Burlington, Vermont in 1996 as one of the nation’s first car donation nonprofits providing affordable and reliable transportation options for people in need. Now expanded to Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, Good News Garage has provided over 5,000 New England families with reliable vehicles. The organization’s goal is to increase opportunities for its clients to move out of poverty and into financial and social stability. For more information about Good News Garage or to donate a car, truck, or van visit GoodNewsGarage.org or call 877.GIVE.AUTO (877.448.3288).