Here’s a charity worth supporting

Dear Editor: About a year ago, it was time to upgrade our well-used, yet fully-functional mini van. I considered selling or trading it in as it was still in good condition.

Donating it to a needy family seemed like another option, but it’s actually difficult to just give a vehicle away in B.C. without being hit with taxes on the fair-market value. I called a few charities in town, but they were not well organized or prepared to accept such a gift.

That’s when a friend told me about the Carma Project run by Bruce and Penny Stranaghan, owners of Integra Tire.

What I loved about their program was that they had a system for selecting recipients and had an established partnership with multiple community businesses to facilitate the transfer of the vehicle in the best possible way.

Bruce and his team of mechanics devote their spare time fixing up the vehicles to make them as safe and reliable as possible. They have relationships with other businesses that donate parts and services, insurance, and detailing so the final product is even better than what I originally donated.

More than a dozen vehicles have been transferred to needy families in the last seven years and two more will roll out the door June 7.

This time, Bruce and Penny have wisely chosen to donate to two local societies that will use the vehicles to help countless families in need of transportation assistance. I feel this will greatly enhance the impact of the donation, affecting many families.

Hats off to this charitable couple who are positively impacting the community. I would encourage like-minded individuals to consider donating to their cause with a vehicle or cash donation to further their important grassroots work in the community. Steven Krywulak

Kelowna