Local Video
|
| Car program helps break poverty cycle |
By: DAVID HENKE, Staff Writer
|
Posted: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 11:46 pm
|
 Email  Print
|
NORTHFIELD — Monika Miller-Hess calls her 1998 Dodge Caravan “a little miracle.”
That’s because, as little as four weeks ago, the unemployed mother of four was carless. Her broken-down old Ford Explorer was too expensive to repair, and not even offering her mother’s old jewelry up as collateral could net her a car loan from local auto dealerships.
Desperate to provide for her family, Miller-Hess was “just about to throw in the towel,” when the Northfield Community Action Center gave her the Caravan as part of the CAC’s Auto Recycling program.
Over an 11-year span, the program has donated 128 used cars — given to the CAC by community members, groups or businesses — to qualifying low-income individuals and families in Northfield. The program, CAC social worker Sharon Vangsness believes, helps local families break the poverty cycle, build self-esteem and develop a sense of independence.
And while the waiting list for the program is extensive — 35 applicants are currently holding out for a car — the wait comes with a big payoff.
“I wanted to go back to school and provide a better life for my kids, and not having a car obviously was a roadblock,” said Miller-Hess, who received her van in mid-September. Without it, she wouldn’t be able to bring her kids to their doctor’s appointments, transport her youngest daughter to kindergarten in the mornings or commute to Brown College in Lakeville, where she hopes to take classes later this year.
“Poverty is stressful enough, you add the piece of not having a way to get somewhere, and it almost throws you over the edge,” Miller-Hess said. “Having the van, I feel, has alleviated the hopeless of being a single parent now I’m able to do what I need to do to get us out of this mess.”
Miller-Hess’s sentiments are echoed by Mike Poegel, who received a 1995 Subaru Legacy through the program. Before receiving the Subaru, Poegel owned a beat-up pick-up with a bad transmission and no headlights. Unable to drive at night, Poegel couldn’t visit his 15-year-old son, who lives 90 minutes away in New Richmond, Wis.
“It’s a lot of stress off my shoulders, being able to jump in something that you know is going to get you there and back,” said Poegel, who is employed, but was unable to repair his old pick-up or purchase a new one.
“I think that the reality of transportation and getting people to work is critical to breaking the poverty cycle,” Vangsness said. “I think it allows people to do the things they haven’t been able to do before much more easily. A car makes a difference in their lives, it’s an ultimate gift.”
HOW TO DONATE OR APPLY FOR A CAR
To be eligible to receive a car through the Northfield Community Action Center’s Auto Recycling program, the applicant must have no car, or one that needs extensive repairs, hold a valid Minnesota driver’s license, provide proof of car insurance and make 200 percent of the poverty level income or less, among other criteria.
Applicants who have already received a car through the program are also less likely to be approved for another vehicle.
Individuals interested in donating a used car to the CAC, or applying to receive a car through the program, can contact the CAC at 507-664-3550.
— David Henke covers city, business and youth issues. He can be reached at dhenke@northfieldnews.com or 645-1100.
|
|
|
|
Story Comment Guidelines:
Registered members who identify themselves by name are authorized to automatically post comments to stories. Readers who wish to remain anonymous submit comments to a pending queue, where they will be reviewed for approval within 24 hours of their submission. To determine the author of a comment, click on the user name.
Those who identify themselves will be given broader boundaries to express their opinion. Only those anonymous comments that contribute to the conversation in a thoughtful, respectful, civil manner will be approved. The decision to approve or reject a comment is a subjective one and is ours alone. Authors of rejected comments will receive an email response.
If you would like to report abuse click here to notify us.
|
|
| Show Comments | Hide Comments
|
|
| Login and voice your opinion!
|
|
|
|
|
Top Jobs | Top Homes | Top Cars
09 Jetta
09 white Jetta asking $16,000
less than 48,000 miles
|
|
Digg
Del.icio.us
Facebook
MySpace
StumbleUpon
Google
Yahoo!
